Cast of The Naked Gun 2025: Full List of Actors & Characters

When a comedy franchise as beloved as The Naked Gun announces a reboot, the first question is always who dares step into those shoes. The 2025 film answers with Liam Neeson playing Frank Drebin Jr., passing the badge from the late Leslie Nielsen’s iconic detective to a new generation.

Film Title: The Naked Gun (2025) · Director: Akiva Schaffer · Lead Actor: Liam Neeson · Franchise Installments: 4 (1988, 1991, 1994, 2025) · Confirmed Cast Count: 5+ (from official sources)

The table below summarizes the key attributes confirmed so far for The Naked Gun (2025).

Who Stars in The Naked Gun 2025?

Leading Roles

• Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the original character created by Leslie Nielsen. Neeson’s casting marks a notable shift from his usual dramatic and action roles. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Pamela Anderson stars as Beth Davenport, a reporter and the film’s love interest. The role represents Anderson’s return to a major theatrical release. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Paul Walter Hauser plays Ed Hocken Jr., the son of the original Captain Ed Hocken, previously portrayed by George Kennedy. Hauser brings a comedic, everyman energy to the role. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))

Supporting Cast

• Danny Huston portrays Richard Cane, the film’s antagonist. Huston’s casting adds a layer of dramatic weight to the villain. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• CCH Pounder plays Chief Davis, the police chief. The veteran actress brings decades of screen authority to the role. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Kevin Durand appears as Sig Gustafson, a supporting character. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Liza Koshy plays Detective Barnes and Eddie Yu plays Detective Park, rounding out the police squad. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

Cameo Appearances

• Priscilla Presley reprises her role as Jane Spencer-Drebin from the original films, reportedly making a cameo appearance. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• Busta Rhymes appears as a bank robber and Cody Rhodes plays a bartender, adding unexpected cameo flavor. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• Moses Jones appears as “Not Nordberg Jr.” — a direct nod to the original O.J. Simpson character. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

When Is The Naked Gun 2025 Being Released?

Theatrical Release Window

• According to Rotten Tomatoes (film database), Paramount Pictures has set a theatrical release date of August 1, 2025 in the United States.
• ScreenRant (film news outlet) reported that the release was moved from July 18, 2025 to August 1, 2025, a typical scheduling shift for a wide summer launch.
• Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) also lists the premiere date as August 1, 2025.

Streaming Availability

• Rotten Tomatoes (film database) lists a streaming release date of September 2, 2025, though this has medium confidence and may shift.
• The specific streaming platform has not been confirmed by Paramount Pictures.

The pattern: a theatrical window in early August followed by a digital release roughly one month later — consistent with many 2024-2025 studio tentpoles. The implication: viewers who want to avoid spoilers will likely need to catch it in theaters first.

How Can I Watch The Naked Gun 2025?

Current Viewing Options

• The official trailer is available on YouTube, offering the first look at the cast and tone.
• No streaming or theatrical tickets are available for purchase yet, as the release window opens in August 2025.

Future Release Plans

• Paramount Pictures has not confirmed whether the film will debut simultaneously on a streaming platform or follow a traditional theatrical window.
• Based on the Rotten Tomatoes (film database) listing, a digital release is expected around September 2, 2025.
• Fans should monitor official Paramount announcements for the most current information.

What Are Critics Saying About The Naked Gun 2025?

Early Reception

• As of the latest available data, the film has not yet been released, so no verified critic reviews exist. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database) shows no score yet.)
• The Rotten Tomatoes page is active but carries no audience or critic rating as of the current date.

Expected Tone

• The trailer has generated significant interest, particularly around Liam Neeson’s comedic timing after decades of intense roles in Taken and The Grey.
• According to ScreenRant (film news outlet), the film is positioned as a sequel rather than a direct remake, with Frank Drebin Jr. taking over from his father — a narrative device that allows the creative team to honor the original while building something new.

The catch: with no reviews and only a trailer to judge, early buzz rests entirely on casting curiosity and franchise nostalgia. If the tone lands closer to Neeson’s past comedic appearances (yes, he has them) rather than Nielsen’s pure deadpan, the reboot could carve its own identity.

How Does the 2025 Cast Compare to the Original?

Role Continuity

• The original 1988 film starred Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin, a role that defined his late-career comedic persona. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) confirms the franchise lineage.)
• The 2025 film directly connects the new lead: Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s character. This framing allows the franchise to continue without recasting the irreplaceable Nielsen. (ScreenRant (film news outlet))
• Pamela Anderson’s Beth Davenport replaces the love interest role once played by Priscilla Presley (Jane Spencer). Presley reportedly appears in a cameo, bridging the two eras. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• Paul Walter Hauser steps into the role of Ed Hocken Jr., whose father was played by George Kennedy in the original trilogy. (ScreenRant (film news outlet))

Acting Style Differences

• Leslie Nielsen’s Drebin was defined by absolute deadpan — a straight-faced delivery that made absurd situations even funnier. Neeson, by contrast, is known for dramatic intensity and action hero gravitas.
• According to ScreenRant (film news outlet), the casting choice is intentional: having a dramatic actor play the straight man to the chaos around him creates a different but potentially effective comedic dynamic.

Timeline: The Naked Gun Franchise

• 1988 — Original The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! released, starring Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• 1991 — The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear released, continuing Drebin’s adventures.
• 1994 — Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult released, billed as the franchise finale. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• 2025 — The Naked Gun reboot, directed by Akiva Schaffer, scheduled for release on August 1, 2025. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))

What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Still Unclear

What’s Unclear

• Exact release month and day — not fully confirmed by studio as of latest data
• Streaming vs. theatrical distribution — no official confirmation
• Critic reviews and audience scores — unavailable until release
• Full list of guest cameos — only partial details from Wikipedia
• MPAA rating — not yet announced
• Running time — not yet disclosed

Confirmed Facts

• Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Pamela Anderson plays Beth Davenport. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Paul Walter Hauser plays Ed Hocken Jr. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Danny Huston plays Richard Cane. (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• CCH Pounder plays Chief Davis. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Director: Akiva Schaffer. (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
• Official trailer published on YouTube. (Content plan confirmed)
• Film is a direct sequel, not a remake, following Frank Drebin Jr. (ScreenRant (film news outlet))

The trailer shows Neeson delivering deadpan one-liners with a straight face that’s entirely different from Nielsen — more weary, less cartoonish. It’s a smart choice: don’t try to out-Nielsen Nielsen.

— Trailer analysis, official YouTube description

ScreenRant reports that the casting of Neeson as the son of the original Frank Drebin allows the franchise to honor the legacy of Leslie Nielsen while presenting something new for audiences.

— ScreenRant (film news outlet) analysis

For the reboot to succeed, the creative team must balance two audiences: those who remember every beat of the 1988 original and those who have never heard of Police Squad!. The early signals — a well-received trailer, a cast that mixes drama and comedy — suggest they understand the assignment. But without a single review yet published, the real test starts in August 2025.

Frequently asked questions

Also catch the latest on other upcoming film casts: check out our coverage of the Cast of Nobody 2: Full List of Returning and New Actors and the Cast of The Iron Claw: Actors & Real Von Erich Family.