Liam Neeson on Possible ‘The Naked Gun’ Sequel: ‘I Think It’s a One-off’
In a day and age where comedies are becoming less and less common in theaters, Liam Neeson was the face behind a potential push to change that. Neeson, who stars in The Naked Gun, a reboot of the three-film franchise starring Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin, hit theaters on Aug. 1 and has earned impressive marks from critics and fans.
Most importantly, from a business standpoint, The Naked Gun got off to a strong start at the box office, collecting $28 million globally on its opening weekend. Now, many fans of the movie are curious about the potential for a sequel, and likely won't be thrilled with Neeson's take on the topic.
Liam Neeson Doesn't Envision a Sequel to 'The Naked Gun'
Neeson's performance as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the iconic character Frank Drebin from the original series, was highly praised by most moviegoers. However, even considering the film's high marks and praise of Neeson's work, the popular actor doesn't envision a sequel for The Naked Gun, as he told Newsweek.
"I think it's a one-off, yeah," Neeson said.
While it's not a clear-cut "no," it doesn't sound as though he expects a follow-up to be on the horizon.
Along with Neeson, the Akiva Schaffer-directed movie, which was produced by Seth MacFarlane, features Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser in co-starring roles.
Related: Liam Neeson Admits He Still Drops His Terrifying 'Taken' Speech on His Son’s Friends
Early Reviews and Reactions to 'The Naked Gun' Make Neeson's Comment Surprising
While The Naked Gun has only been in theaters for just over one week, it's hard not to view the movie, both financially and based on the reviews, as a win. Neeson's jump into the world of comedy after thriving in action movies, including the beloved series Taken, has been more than well-received.
Along with the box office numbers above, the reviews of The Naked Gun from critics and fans alike have been strong. The movie has earned a "certified fresh" label on Rotten Tomatoes, holding a strong 89 percent critics' score based on 267 reviews.
The fan response has been strong as well, as the film sits at 76 percent on the fan-focused Popcornmeter, with over 2,500 verified reviews.
While fans will surely hold out hope that Neeson's expectation of a sequel isn't already a decision that's set in stone, time will tell about the future of a follow-up to The Naked Gun.
Related: Liam Neeson Got 'The Naked Gun' Greenlit by Hilariously Trash-Talking Paramount