Liam Neeson is carrying on the Naked Gun legacy.
The first trailer for the comedy-action reboot debuted on Thursday, April 3, showing Neeson, 72, in the Akiva Schaffer-directed film.
“Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world,” reads a logline, nodding to Neeson’s past Taken role.
The teaser also features a quick joke about O.J. Simpson, the controversial late athlete who starred in the 1988 original, plus the sequels in 1991 and 1994.
The movie is based on the Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and Jerry Zucker franchise The Naked Gun that originally starred Leslie Nielsen as self-serious detective Frank Drebin, who managed to fail up through the ranks of the police squad.
In the new film, Neeson stars as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., son of Nielsen’s character, as he follows in his father’s footsteps. The cast includes Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu and Danny Huston.
Liam Neeson in “The Naked Gun”. Paramount Pictures
Neeson and Anderson previously told PEOPLE how they were impressed with each other’s comedic chops.
“With Pamela, first off, I’m madly in love with her. She’s just terrific to work with,” Neeson told PEOPLE in October 2024. “I can’t compliment her enough, I’ll be honest with you. No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She’s funny and so easy to work with. She’s going to be terrific in the film.”
“Whether I can carry it or not, I honestly don’t know,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anderson disagreed with Neeson’s “humble” sentiments: “It was hard to keep a straight face in scenes together.”
Paramount Pictures
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She noted he’s “the perfect gentleman,” adding, “He brings out the best in you … with respect, kindness and depth of experience. It was an absolute honor to work with him.”
Anderson said Neeson “sincerely looked after me — wrapped his coat around me when I was cold.” She, in turn, baked him bread and cookies and left them for him in his dressing room.
The Naked Gun is in theaters Aug. 1.
