According to Variety, Taken star Liam Neeson has entered negotiations for the leading role in Paramount Pictures’ upcoming modern reimagining of the 1980s comedy film The Naked Gun. The project hails from Seth MacFarlane and Akiva Schaffer, the latter of whom will be directing.
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Further details about Neeson’s potential character are still being kept under wraps. However, earlier this year, Neeson had actually previously hinted about the project during his most recent interview with us, in which he revealed that MacFarlane asked him if he’s interested in playing a new version of Frank Drebin — a character famously portrayed by Leslie Nielsen.
“Well, I’m interested in comedy,” Neeson said in his previous interview. “Seth McFarlane has approached me about maybe, I think Paramount Studios had asked Seth, would he be interested in resurrecting in the Naked Gun series, or a film based on Naked Gun, so he asked me if I’d be interested in playing the Leslie Nielsen character, which are huge shoes to fill, so we’re hoping that’ll maybe come together in the next year or two years.”
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The remake will be directed and executive produced by Schaffer from a screenplay he co-wrote with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The producers are MacFarlane and Erica Huggins.
