Now this is some reboot news I can get behind. Paramount has tapped Ed Helms to play legendary Detective Frank Drebin in a reboot of THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD! Previously portrayed by Leslie Nielsen with absolute comedic genius in both the 1982 TV series and the subsequent films that followed: THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD!, THE NAKED GUN 2 1/2: THE SMELL OF FEAR, and THE NAKED GUN 33 1/3: THE FINAL INSULT. Thomas Lennon and R. Ben Garant (NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, Reno 911!) will script the reboot.
I’m sure there will be some moans and groans over this, but I think this sounds like a good fit for Helms. He’s got the perfect blend of awkward comedic skills and can certainly play the straight man that’s just a little off. With Nielsen passing away in 2010, leaving behind a legacy of some hilarious (and not-so-hilarious) spoof films, it’ll be nice to see one that’s actually funny again. Just keep Seltzer and Friedberg the hell away from this.
No word on release, director, or additional cast, but expect to hear more as this develops.