Liam Neeson’s Bold New Chapter: Trading Action for Comedy in ‘The Naked Gun’ as Career Evolution Continues

A New Direction for a Legendary Actor

Despite his impressive career, ‘The Naked Gun’ marks Liam Neeson’s first full comedy film. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, this 2025 crime comedy action thriller serves as a legacy sequel to the original franchise, with Neeson starring in the main role alongside Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser. The plot follows the son of Lt. Frank Drebin who must succeed in his father’s footsteps to prevent the closure of Police Squad.

Box Office Success and Critical Acclaim

As of September 2025, the film has achieved significant success, grossing $96 million worldwide. Critics have warmly received the film, with 88% of 301 critics giving positive reviews. The consensus particularly praises Neeson’s gravelly gravitas as a perfect fit for Frank Drebin’s deadpan buffoonery.

A Career in Transition

This comedy marks a new chapter for Neeson, whose later-in-life resurgence as a major action star is drawing to its natural end. The actor, now 73, candidly admits his age is a factor, quipping that he doesn’t want to be doing action scenes ‘with a Zimmer frame’ (a walker).

Looking Back and Moving Forward

Since his action movie breakthrough with ‘Taken’ in 2008, Neeson has headlined numerous action films, including ‘Unknown,’ ‘The Grey,’ ‘Non-Stop,’ ‘Run All Night,’ ‘The Commuter,’ and ‘The Ice Road’. While he hasn’t set a specific date for his last action movie role, he has indicated that it will likely be at the end of 2025, simply stating, ‘I think that’s it’.

Future Projects

Among his upcoming projects is ‘Cold Storage,’ a thriller about a deadly virus breaking free from a government facility, and ‘Charlie Johnson in the Flames,’ a political thriller where he plays an American journalist tracking down a ruthless Colonel in Iraq. These roles demonstrate Neeson’s continuing versatility as an actor, even as he transitions away from pure action roles.