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The Naked Gun director Akiva Schaffer has opened up about why a sequel to Liam Neeson's version of the crime comedy is likely dead. Neeson's The Naked Gun was released on August 1, 2025, serving as a legacy sequel to the original trilogy starring Leslie Nielsen. The movie earned critical acclaim and was a general box office success.
However, speaking with CBR, Schaffer revealed there are no plans for a sequel to Neeson's version of The Naked Gun. The director explained how Paramount's merger with Skydance made it unlikely a follow-up would be produced. This is despite he and co-writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand having some ideas for comedic scenes a sequel could include:
Akiva Schaffer: We are not planning another. I don’t know if you heard about Paramount kind of changed owners. It was maybe something. It was about seven days after the movie came out, and so, you know, we’re waiting to hear from see if they would want it. So Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who wrote the script with me, they do have a list of gags.
In addition, producer Erica Huggins said that "We have a big idea that we had talked about," referring to where a sequel could have gone had it been in the cards. However, based on both of their statements, it seems Paramount's change in ownership is a major factor as to why The Naked Gun 2 starring Neeson isn't going to happen.
Liam Neeson looking serious as Frank Drebin Jr. in The Naked Gun (2025)© Paramount Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
The Naked Gun currently sits at a Certified Fresh 87% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 336 reviews. It's also earned praise from audiences, sitting at a score of 72% based on over 2,500 verified reviews. Its box office reflects this, earning $102.1 million worldwide off a budget of $42 million, indicating moderate success.
The Neeson-led film also earned a multitude of nominations and awards, including winning Best Comedy at the Critics Choice Awards and Best Comedy Film at the St. Louis Film Critics Association. Despite these accolades, alongside a number of ideas for how the sequel could be developed, Schaffer's statement seemingly puts a lid on any potential return.
Although expectations are low, there's no way of knowing if a follow-up will or won't happen for sure. The franchise took a 31-year theatrical break before Neeson's entry, meaning there could still be a future for the series. How long that wait could be, though, remains to be seen, as it doesn't sound like it'll be coming back anytime soon.
But, if Paramount Skydance does recognize the long-term potential of another movie in the franchise, then perhaps Neeson's The Naked Gun won't be the end for his character. Although Schaffer's tempered expectations means it'll be a while before a sequel does happen, assuming there's a likelihood of it coming to fruition.
Release Date August 1, 2025
Runtime 85 minutes
Director Akiva Schaffer
Writers Akiva Schaffer, Doug Mand, Dan Gregor, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Producers Erica Huggins, Seth MacFarlane