It’s definite: there’s a new The Naked Gun film on the way, and Paramount has given it a summer 2025 release date. More here.
Well, this has been a long, long, long time coming. We’ve covered before Paramount Pictures’ attempt to get fourth The Naked Gun film moving. At first with the late Leslie Nielsen involved, and then after he passed, for a while it looked like Ed Helms was going to take on the lead role.
Now, it seems that Liam Neeson is to play the son of Nielsen’s Lieutenant Frank Drebin in whatever the new The Naked Gun movie ends up being called.
I’m one of many who’s not been won over yet by the idea of a new The Naked Gun film, but on the flip side, there are some positives. Notably the personnel behind the camera: Akiva Schaffer has previously directed the excellent Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers movie (a really surprising treat, if you’ve not had the pleasure) and the modern comedy classic (yep) Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.
He’s written the script too, along with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. It looks like there’s no longer any direct involvement from David Zucker and Pat Proft, who penned the earlier The Naked Gun films (with Zucker directing the first two).
Seth MacFarlane is producing the film (at one stage he was going to direct), and he revealed earlier this year that production was indeed ramping up for 2024. So it’s proven as well, and Paramount Pictures has now confirmed that not only is it going ahead, but that the new film will be in cinemas on 18th July 2025.
There’s clearly more casting work to be done, as we learn who’s going to be starring alongside Liam Neeson in the film. Still, for the minute, just the news that it’s definitely on means the movie is breaking out of what felt like a never-ending development hell.
We’ll keep you posted on The Naked Gun as we hear more about it…
