Thirty-one years after the last “Naked Gun” film, Liam Neeson returns. This time, there’s a lot less high-stakes action and a lot more slapstick chaos.
In the upcoming reboot of “The Naked Gun,” the veteran actor portrays the son of Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin, exchanging intense thrillers for banana peels and chili dogs.
He’s joined by an all-star team including Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston, along with writer-director Akiva Schaffer.
“It was terrific—unexpected,” Neeson told NBC Sports’ Adriana Ferrari. “I wanted to celebrate getting a chance to work with Pamela, Danny, and Akiva. We had a really good script that we could develop and make better… I hope we did.”
Anderson, fresh off her recent Broadway run and documentary success, said the film was a chance to explore her comedic chops. “I really wanted to do it,” she said. “I love the original ‘Naked Gun,’ and my kids were like, ‘This is really important — you have to do this.’ So I did!”
The physical comedy of the film was a particular draw.
“This was really high comedy — physical comedy — and it was just so much fun,” Anderson added.
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While the film may be a spoof, the cast’s chemistry is the real deal. Anderson and Neeson shared easy banter on and off set, as the conversation shifted from stunt work to stadium snacks.
As a fun twist, Anderson was famously discovered on the jumbotron at a Canadian Football League game.
“I’d never even been to a game before,” she laughed. “My friends made me stand up and show my t-shirt … next thing I knew, I was on the big screen.”
Neeson also had a viral sports moment of his own, re-enacting his famous “Taken” phone call during a Rangers game.
“They usually show that scene from ‘Taken,'” he explained. “So I thought, if they cut back to me, I should still be doing it!”
As for their favorite stadium snacks? Anderson joked, “Don’t eat if you’re going to be on the Jumbotron.”
Neeson, ever the minimalist, admitted, “I always carry my decaffeinated black breakfast tea. I’m not a snacker.”
With star power and laughs, “The Naked Gun” reboot is shaping up to be anything but subtle. But hey, when you’ve got Neeson doing slapstick and Anderson dodging hot dogs, subtlety isn’t the point.
“The Naked Gun” reboot hits theaters on Friday, Aug. 1.
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