Directed by Akiva Schaffer and written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, The World's End revives the comedy saga popularized by Leslie Nielsen with a new protagonist: Frank Drebin Jr., played by Liam Neeson. This action comedy, produced in the spirit of a reboot, was released in France on August 13, 2025, and will be available for purchase on VOD on December 11, 2025, then for rental on December 17, 2025. Paul Walter Hauser and Pamela Anderson round out the cast of this new version inspired by the parodic hits of the 1980s and 1990s.
The film stars Frank Drebin Jr., a member of the Special Squad with unexpected methods and a unique sense of action. Following in his father's footsteps, he must face a global threat, mobilizing his atypical talents to prevent the worst from happening. The story plays on its connection to the original trilogy while introducing a new dynamic centered on the main character's clumsiness and unlikely initiatives.
Constructed as an accessible action comedy, the story exploits the codes of police parody by mixing spectacular elements, absurd mishaps, and slapstick humor. The introduction of new characters, including a femme fatale played by Pamela Anderson, broadens the comic register while reconnecting with the archetypal figures of the franchise. The stakes lie in the contrast between the hero's apparent incompetence and the scale of the mission entrusted to him.
The fourth film in the saga that began in 1988 with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, this version revisits the world originally imagined in the 1982 series Police Squad! Leslie Nielsen, who played Frank Drebin, was also associated with the iconic productions of brothers David and Jerry Zucker, including Airplane! For this new chapter, the studios had to completely rethink the main character, casting Liam Neeson as Drebin's son after Nielsen's death in 2010.
The film's development draws on the comedic expertise of Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who previously worked on the series How I Met Your Mother. Akiva Schaffer, meanwhile, makes his first foray into the franchise, drawing on his experience with Saturday Night Live and several comedies made for the cinema. The director chose to shoot in 35mm to reinforce the film's retro aesthetic, inspired in particular by Top Gun, Tomorrow Never Dies, Beverly Hills Cop II, and Casino Royale.
The script went through several stages of writing. David Zucker, a historical figure in the saga, initially refused to produce the film, feeling that the script strayed too far from the original spirit, before supervising a new version with Pat Proft. The major change was the introduction of Drebin's son, which allowed the universe to be updated while preserving the comic legacy. Filming began in Atlanta on May 6, 2024, under the working title Law of Toughness.
This production also marks new collaborations. Seth MacFarlane recommended Liam Neeson after enjoying his comedic performance in Ted 2, while Pamela Anderson joins the project in a femme fatale role, visually inspired by the aesthetic of Faye Dunaway. The actress, recently seen in The Last Showgirl, takes on a lighter role here and plays with her public image. Rumors of a romance between Anderson and Neeson during filming have fueled curiosity about the movie.
Is there a cop to save the world?
Film | 2025
Theatrical release: August 13, 2025
Available to purchase on VOD on December 11, 2025, then to rent on December 17, 2025
Action/Comedy | Running time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Directed by Akiva Schaffer | Starring Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser
Original title: The Naked Gun
Country: United States
With its parodic approach and deliberately referential aesthetic, this reinterpretation offers an accessible introduction to the world of Frank Drebin while exploiting its comic potential in a contemporary register. The film's humor is rooted in a popular tradition that blends police caricature, physical comedy, and cinematic references, in the direct lineage of the great American comedies of the 1980s and 1990s.
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