*Paramount Pictures has released the first teaser for its reboot of “The Naked Gun,” and while fans were excited to see Liam Neeson step into the absurd world of slapstick crime-fighting, it’s a surprise O.J. Simpson reference that’s generating the most buzz online.
The new film, set to hit theaters on August 1, 2025, stars Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the iconic character made famous by Leslie Nielsen in the original trilogy and its TV predecessor, “Police Squad!.” Directed by “Saturday Night Live” alum Akiva Schaffer and produced by Seth MacFarlane, the reboot promises a modern take on the beloved spoof-comedy formula.
But the trailer’s final scene, a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, has stirred debate. In it, a group of police officers kneel before framed portraits of their late fathers. While most are overcome with emotion, one officer—revealed to be the son of Detective Nordberg, played in the original films by Simpson—casts a side-eye glance at the camera and silently shakes his head.
Reactions online have ranged from amused to skeptical. “That O.J. Simpson joke got me,” one fan admitted. Another chimed in, “The reveal that the station has a dedicated dad memorial room is much funnier than the OJ bit,” said one person. “Was on the fence about this, but OJ’s kid looking at the camera and shaking his head was pretty funny,” said a third.
Even Simpson’s former attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, weighed in, telling TMZ he found the joke “funny” and appreciated the nod to Simpson’s role in the original films. “It’s good OJ is acknowledged since he was a star of the franchise,” he said.
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Despite Simpson’s highly publicized 1995 acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and his subsequent fall from grace, his legacy in the franchise remains undeniable. “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult,” released just months before his infamous trial, marked Simpson’s last film appearance. He passed away from cancer in 2024.
The reboot boasts a star-studded cast including Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, WWE star Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, and Danny Huston. With Neeson at the helm as the bumbling but determined Drebin Jr., the film promises to blend nostalgic slapstick with modern satire.
Watch the official teaser trailer below.
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