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Despite the toxic reputation that many video game films have been branded with, the genre has managed to turn itself around in recent years, with the Sonic the Hedgehogfranchise being one of the best examples. By honoring the snarky sensibilities of the gaming franchise and gradually introducing extended characters from the universe, the trilogy of Sonic the Hedgehog films has identified exactly what their audience wants, and has generally succeeded in exploring all the possibilities that the material has. It’s easy to forget that long before the franchise transformed into a trilogy with spinoff shows on Paramount+, skepticism about Sonic the Hedgehog was at an all-time high due to the appearance of the original “Ugly Sonic” design in the initial teaser trailer. Although it's a moment that many fans have tried to forget, Ugly Sonic has a hilarious cameo in the Disney+ film Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

As Disney aficionados can tell you, the 1980s were a rough time for the company's animation department. They had a sizable hit in 1977 with "The Rescuers", but Disney just couldn't recapture the magic. The 1981 film "The Fox and the Hound" cost a hefty $12 million, but brought in only $14.2 million domestically, which was not horrible, but not great. Notoriously, the 1985 fantasy epic "The Black Cauldron" lost a bucket of money, made for $44 million (!), and earning only $21.3 million. "The Black Cauldron" was such a bomb, there was some buzz that Disney might shutter their animation department altogether.

At least Disney racked up a modest hit the following year with "The Great Mouse Detective," a $25 million hit from a $14 million budget. That film was a Sherlock Holmes story, but posited that Holmes' apartment was the home of an anthropomorphic mouse named Basil (Barrie Ingham), a clever creature that, in observing Holmes, became a star detective for mice.

It's official: Tim Robinson is a leading man. After slowly but steadily building up a resume working in TV over the years, Robinson makes the leap to the big screen as the star of "Friendship," a twisted new comedy that co-stars Paul Rudd. "Friendship" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, and in all honesty, it didn't seem to garner as much hype as some other festival fare. But the first trailer for the film arrived today courtesy of the folks at A24, and the results look nothing short of incredible. See for yourself.

In "Friendship," Robinson plays Craig, a suburban guy who begins bonding with his neighbor, Austin, played by Rudd. Things ... don't go according to plan. Look, it's clear that this trailer is holding something back and not giving us the entire picture. But from the look of things, it's obvious the friendship between Craig and...

A24 has released the first trailer for “Friendship,” a comedy starring Tim Robinson (“I Think You Should Leave”) and Paul Rudd. The film is slated for a theatrical release this May, following a March 9 SXSW premiere.

In “Friendship,” suburban dad Craig (Robinson) falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor (Rudd), as Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives. Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra and Billy Bryk also star. Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed “Friendship” in his feature debut.

The comedy first premiered on Sept. 8, 2024 at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of its Midnight Madness section. A24 acquired the film a week later, following strong reviews out of the fest.

“Friendship” marks Robinson’s first starring role in a movie. He is best known for his Netflix sketch comedy series “I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson,...

Looking ahead to 2025, here are the 45 films of all genres – from horror to comedy to drama and more – we reckon you really shouldn’t miss.

Special mentions:

Firstly, the movies you won’t be seeing, but want to namecheck. Our rules were that we didn’t want to include films that had screened, but not made it to the UK yet (with the exception of British films). Hence – sorry Kevin – the next Horizon film isn’t on the list. There’s stuff we’re watching for release dates too: Above The Below, Mother’s Pride, All Of You, and such like. We acknowledge too that there’s a Michael Jackson biopic that you won’t find below. Plus superhero films that don’t really need our help, so we limited ourselves to one or two of those.

Instead, here’s the 45 films firmly on our radar for 2025…

45. Avatar: Fire And...

The Walt Disney Company is facing a lawsuit from an animator who claims that the Moana movies borrowed heavily from a script and art of his own, adding that he was duped by another studio into sharing these ideas. The damages sought? $10 billion.

In the lawsuit, animator Buck Woodall claims that Jenny Marchick, a one-time development director at Mandeville Films (whose Disney partnership resulted in movies like 2017’s Beauty and the Beast and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers), relayed key materials – including a script, illustrations and more – to Disney. To quote the 33-page filing: [Disney and Marchick] “participated in a fraudulent enterprise that encompassed the theft, misappropriation, and extensive exploitation of Woodall’s copyrighted materials, intellectual property, and trade secrets as set forth in this Complaint. This conspiracy was marked by a web of coordinated actions, including but not limited to: deliberate misrepresentations to deceive Woodall; systematic concealment of critical evidence; covert meetings...

As Hollywood adjusted to the whims and desires of Baby Boomer moviegoers heading into the 1970s, studios found themselves making fewer and fewer Westerns. Long one of the most reliably profitable genres, younger viewers who'd come of age rebelling against much of what their parents held dear were turned off by this continued mythologizing of how America pursued its manifest destiny. They rejected John Wayne, but turned out for Italian-produced Spaghetti Westerns, especially those starring Clint Eastwood. As a result, the only semi-traditional Hollywood Westerns Boomers would embrace tended to feature Eastwood in the starring role (e.g. "High Plains Drifter" and "The Outlaw Josey Wales").

One notable exception to the Eastwood rule was Michael Crichton's sci-fi/Western blend "Westworld." The 1973 film stars Richard Benjamin and James Brolin as a pair of buddies who take a vacation to an adult amusement park called Delos to live out their dreams...

Sonic the Hedgehog franchise director Jeff Fowler has reflected on the main hero's original design backlash five years after the infamous first trailer. When the first trailer for the first film was released, Sonic's design was heavily criticized, with his small eyes, gloveless hands, and human teeth causing him to be dubbed "Ugly Sonic" by fans. Luckily, Paramount responded by redesigning the character and pushing the movie from November 2019 to February 2020. The redesign may have contributed to the franchise's success, with the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 already being hailed as the best in the series so far.

Speaking with Deadline, Fowler explained how Sonic's original design in the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie, and subsequent redesign, was a reflection of how much the production cared for fan's voices about the film. He calls it part of the series' history and one of many challenges they've faced, including shooting...

Longtime Disney production executive Louie Provost is leaving the company’s fold.

Insiders say the executive’s contract was up, with Provost set to depart at the end of this year.

Provost joined the company in 2007 as an assistant to then-president of production Oren Aviv. He climbed up the production and development ranks, making it to The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen list in 2015 and to his current title, executive vp, production as he oversaw a range of live-action titles. Among those were the $ 1 billion hit Aladdin, the fondly-regarded The Muppets, the big-budget Maleficent and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and the personal Pete’s Dragon. Saving Mr. Banks and Rescue Rangers were also movies he shepherded.

“My time at Disney has been unforgettable,” Provost said in a statement. “During my seventeen years here, I’ve had the opportunity to work with incredible filmmakers making projects we loved on all sorts of different scales,...

Disney has produced plenty of great animated TV shows over the years, from the 1980s to the 2020s. Starting with shows like Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers and DuckTales, Disney reinvented some of their classic characters for TV. Later, they started developing original TV concepts that didn't rely on existing characters, but these shows became iconic in their own right.

Disney has never had quite as many iconic cartoons as other networks - like Cartoon Network, for example - because they also produced live-action TV shows for younger audiences. Still, there have been some animated classics over the years, from shows like Kim Possible and Recess in the 2000s to modern hits like Amphibia and The Owl House. Disney cartoons are often categorized by their sense of adventure, combining crowdpleasing humor with exciting stories.

Darkwing Duck Darkwing Duck Is A Throwback Genre Parody That Still Amuses Younger Audiences

Darkwing Duck

Cast  Dan Castallaneta,...

Disney Lorcana's latest set of Starter Decks offers players a Pirate and Inventor-themed adventure, with plenty of great cards from across several iconic films. From Treasure Planet to Big Hero Six, the Azurite Sea Starter Decks are bringing a lot of exciting new cards to the table that fans will want to get their hands on. Some fan-favorite characters, such as Baymax and Jim Hawkins make appearances, as well as some lesser-known folks.

Of course, across both decks, the artwork is sublime. However, for those who can only afford one, or just want to start off with a single deck, deciding between the two can be hard. They both have their strengths and weaknesses, so it can be easy to go for the one with the more popular characters. However, while both decks reviewed well, there is a clear winner between them, one that newcomers and returning fans will absolutely want to pick up.

Kemp Powers is adding serious star power to his upcoming feature film Lunik Heist, which will star Jared Leto, Lupita Nyong’o, and John Mulaney. Powers directs Lunik Heist from his own script based on actual events. The story orbits around the American government’s plot to steal a Soviet spacecraft during a 1959 exposition in Mexico City. Jeff Maysh’s MIT Technology Review article inspires the screenplay, with Maysh executive producing. In addition to his starring role, Jared Leto produces alongside Emma Ludbrook via the duo’s Paradox studio with Mark Johnson for Gran Via Productions.

“We’re so thrilled to bring together such an exceptional team,” said Matthew Greenfield, the President of Searchlight Pictures. “With the extraordinary talents of Jared, Lupita, and John, led by the visionary Kemp, Lunik Heist is a wild, roller-coaster ride filled with subterfuge and unlikely heroes.”

After directing one of my Top 10 animated films, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,...

The next Disney Lorcana set to arrive is Azurite Sea, a set focused on Inventors and Pirate glimmers. The newest set features iconic Disney characters and fan-favorites dressed for the uncharted seas and tropical climates, and the two new Starter Decks really bring this theme home. Whether looking into Disney Lorcana for the first time or for longtime fans just wanting to try out something new, the Azurite Sea Starter Decks have a lot to offer.

The two new Starter Decks are Emerald/Sapphire and Amber/Ruby. The Emerald/Sapphire deck has a lot of cards focused on Big Hero 6, but Lorcana regulars like Stitch and Goofy get to shine, too. The Amber/Ruby Starter Deck features a lot of cards from Winnie the Pooh while also showcasing favorites from Moana and Peter Pan. As with past Starter Decks, some characters and properties repeat for both decks - in this case,...

"Sonic the Hedgehog" is one of the most iconic video game franchises in history. The property centers on the titular Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with superspeed who battles the evil scientist Doctor Eggman. Created by Japanese developers Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, and Hirokazu Yasuhara, Sonic debuted in 1991 on the Sega Genesis and gave the company a mascot that could compete with Nintendo's Mario. Quickly, Sonic became a worldwide phenomenon, helping Sega become a major player in the console wars of the early 1990s and even becoming the first video game character to get a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1993.

The media franchise has since expanded far beyond video games, with Sonic starring in his own comic book series, animated TV shows, and, most recently, a series of highly successful live-action movies — movies that helped break the video game adaptation curse. Still, as popular as the...

After facing some stiff competition from rival networks, ABC is set to bring Rachel Bloom back to broadcast television. The co-creator and star of The CW's musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is developing Do You Want Kids?, a new single-camera series that she's once again set to lead in addition to co-writing. This time, however, her creative partner will be her husband, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers and How I Met Your Mother writer Dan Gregor. Both will write the half-hour series with 20th Studios producing and Steve Levitan and Danielle Stokdyk executive producing through Levitan Productions.

John Mulaney is returning to the live show arena for Netflix's upcoming live talk show series. The Chicago native's career has expanded wildly after his start as a stand-up comedian and writer for Saturday Night Live. Since his beginnings on live television in 2008, the comedian has gone on to produce and star in multiple Netflix comedy specials, including the award-winning Kid Gorgeous in 2018 and Baby J in 2023. The comedy powerhouse didn't leave the live stage completely, returning with actor Nick Kroll to co-create and star in Oh, Hello on Broadway in 2016.

Mulaney isn't a stranger to hosting a talk show, either. Earlier this year, he created and hosted Netflix's Everybody's In L.A., a talk show that took advantage of the congregation of comedians in L.A. for the Netflix is a Joke festival. The actor originally wanted to make a live variety show playing off the talents of popular comedians,...

Over a year into the lifespan of Disney Lorcana, the game is moving full steam ahead, and the next step in its continual evolution will be Azurite Sea. As a collectible trading card game making use of Disney cartoon characters pulled from a wide variety of films and shows, Disney Lorcana has no shortage of material to draw from. Azurite Sea will be the sixth set released for the game, introducing over 200 new cards and a selection of products that could appeal to both veteran players and newcomers.

Disney Lorcana: Azurite Sea has characters set sail on a quest to repair the Great Illuminary, a central treasury of Disney songs and stories in the world of Lorcana. Unsurprisingly, a number of new cards will be taking on a nautical theme, but it isn't just a lineup of pirates and mariners. Characters from Big Hero 6 and Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers...

The next set of Disney Lorcana cards has been revealed. If that weren't exciting enough, release date info on the new set and its latest Starter Decks were also shared. Thankfully, Ravensburger also confirmed a few of the characters from classic Disney IPs that will be featured on cards as part of the new set.

According to the latest Lorecast (via Twitch), the next Disney Lorcana set is called Azurite Sea. Glimmers of pirates and inventors from some of Disney's most popular movies and shows will take center stage in the new set, which has Illumineers setting sail in hopes of repairing The Great Illuminary. Confirmed characters for Azurite Sea include those from Chip N' Dale: Rescue Rangers, and characters from Big Hero 6 will also debut in Disney Lorcana. The Big Hero 6 characters include Baymax, Hiro Hamada, Honey Lemon, Wasabi, Go Go Tomago, and Fred.

Disney Lorcana: Azurite...

Certain TV shows have made such a large impact on the medium and pop culture in general that it's surprising to learn they ended after one season. Most of the TV series were canceled prematurely for reasons ranging from low ratings to expensive production costs. However, the indelible marks left by the short-lived series would have most people believing they flourished for many years.

The character relationships and themes addressed in influential series like My So-Called Life and The Honeymooners can be seen in many of the shows that came after them. The former helped change the way teen dramas were made, moving away from storylines that felt disconnected from real teenagers watching at home. Many of the greatest TV shows ever made cultivated lasting legacies and devoted fan bases after having spent years on air, but these TV shows prove the same can be done with one season.

Related...

Millennials might be the first to remember The Disney Afternoon, a two-hour block of Disney cartoons that aired on weekdays from 1990-1997. The block ran in four half-hour segments which alternated between multiple animated series. Surprisingly, the line-up was not slated for The Disney Channel only and aired in many markets across the United States. Some of the headlining shows featured characters that Disney fans would have already been familiar with from the studio's catalog of films and shorts, while others presented all-new characters and concepts.

Recognizable shows, like Darkwing Duck, first aired on The Disney Afternoon and featured voice talents like Jim Cummings. A veteran Disney voice actor, Cummings is best known as the current voice of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger -- but his resume extends well beyond Disney. Nostalgia for The Disney Afternoon has encouraged the studio to consider rebooting some of its properties from the block,...

No one is more excited to introduce Sonic the Hedgehog 3's newest cast member than Sonic himself.

The official Sonic TikTok channel dropped a brief meta-video titled 'foreSHADOWing,' in which Sonic (Ben Schwartz) joyfully praises Keanu Reeves -- who will voice fan-favorite rival Shadow the Hedgehog -- while watching his performance in 1994's Speed. Labeling Reeves "a national treasure," he then proceeds to recite Dennis Hopper's "Pop quiz hotshot" quote from Speed, dubbing it "a classic line."

@sonicmovieforeSHADOWing Sonic the Hedgehog Now on Digital - sonicmovie

Related Netflix Lands the Best Video Game Adaptation of the Decade in September

Netflix is getting a ton of new movies in September, including one of the best video game adaptations of the 2020s.

While Reeves was reported to be Shadow in April, this video's release coincides with reports that an official Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer will drop sometime next week.

Disney Lorcana announced the integration of Pixar cards into gameplay at D23, which is very exciting news for fans. Co-designers Ryan Miller and Steve Warner shared insights into game design and the recent Bucky errata, geared towards improving player experience. The duo also teased details about the upcoming collaboration with Pixar, which will be the perfect synergy with Lorcana's emotional storytelling and whimsy.

One of the biggest hits at D23 2024: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event was undeniably the Ravensburger booth, which was almost always at capacity, and often bustling with players trying their hand at Disney Lorcana. Though still in its infancy, the ultra-popular trading card game has been rising exponentially since its original launch in August 2023. Fans had even more reason to celebrate the game's first anniversary, thanks to the exciting announcements made at Friday's panel.

Lorcana recently unveiled its fifth set Shimmering Skies, which included fun new...

Disney Lorcana will incorporate Pixar cards for the first time in 2026, along with the addition of Pocahontas. New sets in 2024 & 2025 will feature a nautical theme, the Rescue Rangers, and The Black Cauldron. Films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Inside Out could be perfect additions to Disney Lorcana.

Disney Lorcana has proven to be a popular collectible trading card game since its debut in 2023, and a big part of that has to do with the iconic Disney animated characters that define the game. It's easy to get people hooked on something built around a lot of popular films, and the Disney catalog has a broad enough appeal to bring in an audience that extends beyond regular Tcg aficionados. Disney Lorcana has been rolling things out gradually, however, and some of the most iconic films under the Disney umbrella haven't yet made it into the game.

Screen Rant attended D23 2024: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event,...

Exclusive: Fox Entertainment has selected four Fellows for the 2024 Fox Writers Incubator, an initiative designed to nurture diverse and creative voices, as well as provide support to four writers of all genres, including comedy, drama and animation. Ava Anderson, Jon Lazar, Ronald Metellus and Kirsten Rezazadeh-Jakob were named as the 2024 Fwi Fellows. They were selected from over 1,400 submissions.

Now in its third year, the Fox Writers Incubator initiative is a rigorous three-month workshop focused on honing writing skills, professional development and an exploration of the media and entertainment business. It also provides its Fellows with one-on-one mentorship opportunities with Fox executives and staffed writers.

Following successful completion of the Fwi, Fellows will work across series produced by Fox Entertainment’s in-house production unit Fox Entertainment Studios and animation studio Bento Box Entertainment.

“Developing emerging talent through our Incubator initiative creates significant opportunity for both participants and our team,” said...

The Emmy category for Best TV Movie has had a renaissance in recent years, with more high profile projects being exclusive to the medium. In this golden TV era, the level of talent on screen and behind the camera is at an all-time high – showcased best by the level of competition here and Best Limited Series. Once so niche that they were a single combined category at the Emmys, the fields seem to get stronger and stronger every year. As a result, the list of this season’s potential TV movie nominees is incredible. Leading the pack (for me) is Amazon Prime Video’s “Red, White & Royal Blue.”

An adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s New York Times bestselling novel, the film depicts the rivalry and courtship between Henry (Nicholas Galitzine), a prince of England’s royal family, and Alex (Taylor Zakar Perez), the son of an American presidential candidate.

Having trouble predicting what will win Best TV Movie at the upcoming Emmy Awards? Let’s consult Gold Derby’s 2024 Emmy Experts! These savvy pundits from major media outlets have chimed in with their predictions, and the majority of them believe the trophy will go to Peacock’s “Mr. Monk’s Last Case.” The other potential nominees, per our current racetrack odds, are Prime Video’s “Red, White & Royal Blue,” Hulu’s “Quiz Lady,” Showtime’s “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” and Netflix’s “Unfrosted.”

As of this writing, 11 out of our 16 Emmy Experts predict a victory for “Mr. Monk’s Last Case”: Ben Travers (Indiewire), Christopher Rosen (Gold Derby), Jazz Tangcay (Variety), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Keith Simanton (IMDb), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Matt Roush (TV Guide Magazine), Ray Richmond (Gold Derby), Susan King (Gold Derby), Thelma Adams (Gold Derby) and Wilson Morales (BlackFilmandTV). Tony Shalhoub reprises his three-time Emmy-winning...

Andy Samberg is set to star in a comedy feature from the directing team known as Radio Silence.

Amazon MGM Studios has landed the comedy pitch package for The Robots Go Crazy, with Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett attached to helm the film and Samberg attached to star, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Plot details have not been disclosed, but the movie is described as an action comedy.

Samberg, Ali Bell, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone will serve as producers for The Lonely Island’s production company Party Over Here. Also producing are Bettinelli-Olpin, Gillett, Radio Silence’s Chad Villella and Silk Mass’ Jon Silk.

Andrew Lanham is writing the script and will executive produce. Lanham, who previously worked on the scripts for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Just Mercy, is repped by UTA, Kaplan Perrone and Ziffren Brittenham.

After appearing in the recent Hulu release Self Reliance,...

After years of rumors and speculation, Liam Neeson’s Naked Gun reboot looks like it is finally heading into production. Set to be directed by The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer, and written by Dan Gregor and Doug Man, fans expect a lot from this reboot. While many have tried (and failed) to update the franchise, and it’s hard to imagine anyone stepping into Leslie Nielsen’s iconic shoes at Lt. Frank Drebin, it’s pretty interesting that the team pairing on this is the same one that teamed on Disney’s much better than expected reboot of Chip n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers. All involved are really funny, so if anyone could make this work, it’s them. With a release date tentatively set for July 18th, 2025, here’s everything we know about the Naked Gun reboot.

Liam Neeson will be the star.

While some may wonder why Liam Neeson,...

The Naked Gun is getting a reboot that will reimagine the classic comedy movie series with Liam Neeson in the lead. More cast members are now starting to get announced as the project prepares for production.

Per THR, Paul Walter Hauser has joined the cast of The Naked Gun. The actor's role has also been revealed, as it's noted that he's playing Captain Ed, the character played by George Kennedy in the original films. He will star alongside Neeson, who's playing Frank Drebin, a new incarnation of Leslie Nielsen's character. Pamela Anderson has also been cast for the movie as a love interest for Neeson's Frank Drebin. THR has also revealed that Kevin Durand has joined the cast alongside Hauser to play one of the villains.

2:02

Related 15 Best Liam Neeson Movies Since Taken Many know Liam Neeson as the face of the Taken trilogy. Since then, he's been...

After donning ape fur for his upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Kevin Durand is now getting Naked.

The actor, who is also currently on screens with horror movie Abigail, has joined Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser are also on the call sheet for the feature that will begin shooting later this month.

Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that...

It's a busy old time for Paul Walter Hauser – with good reason, since he's been putting in excellent, memorable and award-winning performances in a variety of films and shows. He's now attached to another big title, joining Liam Neeson in the cast of Paramount's new spin on The Naked Gun.

The 1988 original saw David Zucker, brother Jerry, Jim Abrahams and co-writer Pat Proft turn their short-lived comedy series Police Squad! into a movie. It was an instant comedy hit, Leslie Nielsen's iconic central performance cementing his transformation from dramatic actor to comedy legend as Detective Frank Drebin.

Two sequels followed to diminishing returns (though there are still good gags to be enjoyed in both), but we started to hear rumours of a remake in development years ago. That went through a few versions — Ed Helms was attached to star for while — and more recently, Seth MacFarlane has been involved,...

Paul Walter Hauser is ready to fight crime alongside Liam Neeson in the reboot of the Naked Gun franchise.

Hauser is set to play Captain Ed in director Akiva Schaffer’s untitled new Naked Gun film that Paramount Pictures plans to release July 18, 2025. George Kennedy previously played the role in the original film trilogy that kicked off with the 1988 comedy The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Dan Gregor and Doug Mand penned the new movie’s script with Schaffer. The two scribes previously wrote the director’s Emmy-winning Disney+ feature Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins of Fuzzy Door produce the project that is based on the Naked Gun film franchise and the television series Police Squad! from Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. Daniel M. Stillman serves as executive producer.

Hauser joins the cast that includes Neeson and Pamela Anderson. While plot details are under wraps,...

Exclusive: Paul Walter Hauser’s hot streak continues. After seeing New Line lock up rights to the authorized Chris Farley biopic in which he’ll star for director Josh Gad, the actor has signed on to the untitled Naked Gun reboot from Paramount Pictures.

Hauser joins an ensemble that also includes Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, as previously announced. He’ll take on the role of Ed, Frank Drebin’s partner, which was inhabited in prior Naked Gun films by George Kennedy, and in the preceding series Police Squad! by Alan North.

Akiva Schaffer is directing and exec producing the comedy, slated for release in theaters on July 18, 2025. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer, with whom they partnered on the Emmy-winning film Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via Fuzzy Door, with Daniel M. Stillman also serving as EP.

Exclusive: Shortly after it revealed a buzzy remake of The War Of The Roses, it emerges that Adler Entertainment Trust (Aet), the production company dedicated to adapting the works of Warren Adler, is partnering with Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Todd Lieberman (The Fighter) and his production company, Hidden Pictures, on an initial two-project production deal.

Both projects under the partnership will be produced by Lieberman under his Hidden Pictures banner and will be executive-produced by Aet’s Jonathan R. Adler and Michael Adler, sons of the late author and playwright. Alex Young, Hidden Pictures President, will help oversee the partnership.

The two projects being adapted are:

“Untitled Fiona Fitzgerald Detective Series is an hour-long crime drama series based on the eight-book Fiona Fitzgerald Mystery series written by Warren Adler, set in the streets of Washington DC and its political backrooms. Fiona Fitzgerald, born into an illustrious family of DC insiders,...

Pam Anderson joins Liam Neeson in Paramount's Naked Gun reboot, showcasing her satirical comedy chops from past roles. Script by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, creative production helmed by Seth MacFarlane, set for a fresh take on the iconic franchise. Neeson nervous yet excited for comedic role, assures fans film is a reboot not a remake, with fresh gags and a premiere date set for 2025.

Pamela Anderson is set to star opposite Liam Neeson in Paramount's upcoming The Naked Gun reboot. This new iteration of Leslie Nielsen's classic will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, per Deadline.

Anderson, renowned for her role in Baywatch, where she appeared in 110 episodes, is no stranger to the comedy genre. Her performances in Scary Movie 3 and Superhero Movie showcased her flair for satirical comedy, aligning perfectly with the spirit of Naked Gun. Additionally, she reprised her iconic role of...

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson are leading the cast of the brand new The Naked Gun movie, that’s arriving in 2025. More here.

Filming is getting underway imminently on the long, long in gestation new take on The Naked Gun. It’s been through several iterations this, as we charted here, but Paramount is now pressing ahead, with a summer 2025 release planned.

We already knew that Liam Neeson was taking on the role of Frank Drebin Jr, the son of the character made famous by the late Leslie Nielsen. We also know that Akiva Schaffer, he of the magnificent Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Now? Well, the headline of the article has taken all the suspense out of this. Still, Pamela Anderson has joined the ensemble, in a thus-far unnamed role. It’s fairly safe to assume she’s taking a female lead role in the movie, going where the...

Liam Neeson will be joined by a popular Baywatch star for the reimagining of The Naked Gun. While Neeson will portray a new version of Leslie Nielsen's character from the original, he'll be co-starring with Pamela Anderson.

Per Deadline, Pamela Anderson has boarded the cast of the untitled Naked Gun reboot, which is due to hit theaters on July 2025. It's been known that the film will star Neeson as Frank Drebin, though Anderson's role hasn't yet been revealed. Akiva Shaffer is directing the movie after co-writing the script with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, the screenwriting duo behind the Disney+ movie Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing while Daniel M. Stillman is executive producing.

Related Naked Gun Creators Are 'Not Happy' About Liam Neeson's Upcoming Reboot Director David Zucker and co-writer Pat Proft share their frustrations with Paramount's Naked Gun reboot,...

Pamela Anderson is dressing up for Naked Gun.

The actor has signed on to star opposite Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that had ingrained themselves into audience’s minds over the decades. It centered on an inept and clueless detective named Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen, who still somehow managed to solve the crime and save the day.

Plot details are...

Exclusive: Leslie Nielsen’s Lt. Frank Drebin was wrong: Cops and women do mix, and with that we have Pamela Anderson joining Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled Naked Gun reboot, which Akiva Schaffer is directing and executive producing for a July 18, 2025 theatrical release.

The Baywatch actress of 110 episodes has the comedy chops; she’s starred in such big-screen titles as Scary Movie 3 and Superhero Movie, both satirical movies ala the spirit of Naked Gun. Anderson also reprised her TV role of C.J. Parker in Paramount’s big-screen 2017 redux of Baywatch that starred Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario.

Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer for Naked Gun. Gregor and Mand also wrote the Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing Naked via their company Fuzzy Door. Daniel M. Stillman is EP.

The movie...

Anatomy of a Fall actress Sandra Hüller could be making a roast for Akiva Schaffer’s The Naked Gun reboot, so how hot and wet do you like it? A report from industry insider Daniel Richtman says Sandra Hüller is in talks to play the romantic lead in the forthcoming comedy, starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s Lt. Frank Drebin from the Police Squad series and Naked Gun film trilogy.

In the Naked Gun trilogy, Lt. Frank Drebin falls in love with Jane Spencer (Lisa Marie Presley), an assistant for industrialist Vincent Ludwig, utterly unaware of his villainy. After a slapstick-ridden meet-cute, Frank and Jane form a heated courtship accompanied by steamy home-cooked meals, ultra-protected sex, and trips to the baseball field.

How Liam Neeson and Hüller’s characters cross paths in the Naked Gun reboot remains a mystery. We must also wait...

Exclusive: Saturday Night Live alum Chris Parnell has signed with Buchwald for representation.

Parnell is also known for his standout role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on seven seasons of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning 30 Rock. In addition, Parnell starred on three seasons of ABC’s Suburgatory as Fred Shay and has appeared in numerous series including Grown-ish, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Black-ish, Inside Amy Schumer, Will and Grace, The Goldbergs and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Parnell has an extensive voiceover career that includes 13 seasons as Cyril Figgis on Archer, as well as Jerry on Rick and Morty, Mr. Peabody on The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Snoot on The Dawn of the Croods, Migs on Elena of Avalor and various characters on Family Guy and American Dad.

Parnell can also be seen on Netflix in the film Senior Year opposite Rebel Wilson and Alicia Silverstone, and on Disney+ in Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers.

Even an Academy Awards telecast as satisfying as the 96th Oscars has some disappointing moments. From missed speeches to missed opportunities to capitalize on its presenters and a misguided attempt to honor those we’ve lost, here are four of the misfires from the Sunday, Mar. 10 telecast.

Wes Anderson misses his first Oscar win

Yes, many folks were displeased about someone of Wes Anderson’s stature crashing the Best Live Action Short category, but the majority of Oscar voters deemed “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” the best of this year’s nominees. The acclaimed director has seven prior nominations for features “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “Isle of Dogs” but had surprisingly never taken home a trophy, so it would have been joyous to see him ascend the Oscar stage, statuette in hand, and deliver a trademark idiosyncratic acceptance speech.

See...

It was announced all the way back in 2022 that Paramount was going to be remaking "Naked Gun" with Liam Neeson as the star. There was little movement on the project in terms of additional cast members or a projected release window throughout all of 2023, leading many to believe the film had been scrapped or entered a new circle of Hollywood production hell. While many view the "Naked Gun" films as sacred comedy texts that dare not be remade, it's happening, and there's a pretty incredible team behind it. The "Naked Gun" films famously changed the trajectory of star Leslie Nielsen's career, so perhaps the new film could do the same for the gruff, action antics of Neeson. We're still quite a ways away from the release of the film, so here's everything you need to know about the upcoming remake.

Read more: The 15 Best Comedy Duos Of All Time...

The Princess Bride is arguably one of the most influential films of all time. Based on the 1973 novel of the same name, the 1987 film often ranks among the best films of all time, and all of its cast members, including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, and Mandy Patinkin continue to receive recognition for their roles even today.

Liam Neeson in Silence

However, actor Liam Neeson, who is slated to lead a Naked Gun reboot, could have ended up in the iconic film’s cast. During an interview, Neeson spoke about auditioning for a role in the movie. However, Neeson went on to lose the role to one of the most popular wrestlers of the 80s and had to make his name elsewhere. Here is what Neeson revealed about losing the role in The Princess Bride.

SUGGESTEDJamie Dornan Steals the Spotlight After Liam Neeson Shares a Heartwarming Childhood Story About Dakota Johnson...

It’s definite: there’s a new The Naked Gun film on the way, and Paramount has given it a summer 2025 release date. More here.

Well, this has been a long, long, long time coming. We’ve covered before Paramount Pictures’ attempt to get fourth The Naked Gun film moving. At first with the late Leslie Nielsen involved, and then after he passed, for a while it looked like Ed Helms was going to take on the lead role.

Now, it seems that Liam Neeson is to play the son of Nielsen’s Lieutenant Frank Drebin in whatever the new The Naked Gun movie ends up being called.

I’m one of many who’s not been won over yet by the idea of a new The Naked Gun film, but on the flip side, there are some positives. Notably the personnel behind the camera: Akiva Schaffer has previously directed...

Liam Neeson is going to try out a different particular set of skills. The “Taken” star will take a pratfall into slapstick comedy in an upcoming reboot of “The Naked Gun,” the supremely silly parody franchise about cops. On Wednesday, Paramount set a July 18, 2025 release date for the movie, Variety reports.

The film, which is currently untitled, will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, Emmy-winning director of “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” and member of the musical comedy group The Lonely Island. Schaffer wrote the script with “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers” writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”) and Erica Huggins (“Ted”) are producing through their company Fuzzy Door.

“The Naked Gun” franchise was created by the comedy team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker with the 1982 TV series “Police Squad!”, which starred Leslie Nielsen as a dimwitted detective named Frank Drebin.

Paramount is polishing its crystal ball today and looking ahead at some of the films from the studio in the next few years. At least, that’s how it feels when Paramount earnings day comes along. The studio announced a 0.6% increase in stock today, with various release date announcements to whet investor’s whistles. Among the titles mentioned during today’s report, Paramount put dates on projects like Liam Neeson’s Naked Gun reboot, a sequel to 2023’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and more.

The Naked Gun reboot pratfalls into theaters on July 18, 2025, with Liam Neeson starring in the comedic role made famous by the late Leslie Neilsen. Akiva Schaffer directs, and executive produces the Naked Gun reboot, with Dan Gregor and Doug Man writing the script draft alongside Schaffer. One of the reasons this is exciting is that the trio partnered for the way-better-than-anticipated Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers film.

Paramount Pictures has set a release date for its much-delayed The Naked Gun reboot, which will now land in theaters on July 15th, 2025, per Variety.

Starring Liam Neeson, the currently untitled remake will be directed and executive produced by The Lonely Island’s Avika Schaffer, who co-wrote the script with the writing duo of Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing the film through their company Fuzzy Door. Not much else is known about the project at this time.

“It’ll either finish my career or bring it in another direction,” Neeson previously joked to People (The TV Show) about the role. “I honestly don’t know.”

Born out of the short-lived 1982 crime spoof series Police Squad!, The Naked Gun franchise originally centered around the late Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling police sergeant Frank Drebin. It began in 1988 with the first film, From the Files of Police Squad!

Did you forget that there's a reboot of the parody franchise "The Naked Gun" in the works at Paramount Pictures? Not only is the project still happening, but Paramount Pictures has announced an official release date for the comedy revamp: July 15, 2025. That means cameras should be rolling this year if they haven't already started production without us knowing.

"The Naked Gun" followed Leslie Nielsen as bumbling Los Angeles detective Frank Drebin as he encountered various plots of crime and intrigue, often getting into outlandish, slapstick situations. Based on the short-lived spoof series "The Police Squad!" that aired on ABC in 1982, the film series was infinitely more successful, resulting in two sequels that became solid box office hits. With all the nostalgia there is for rebooting previously successful titles, it was only a matter of time before Paramount circled back around to "The Naked Gun."

However, with studios sparsely taking risks on big-screen comedies,...

A Naked Gun reboot that’s long been teased finally has a release date. The cop comedy will star Liam Neeson, though it’s not clear if he’ll play Frank Drebin himself or a new character connected to the wacky detective made famous by the late comedy legend Leslie Nielsen. The Naked Gun reboot will come out in theaters on July 15, 2025, Paramount announced Wednesday, February 28 (per Variety). The so-far untitled film will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer. Schaffer co-wrote the draft script with Dan Gregor and Doug Man, the writing team behind the live-action and animation hybrid Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins produce through their production house Fuzzy Door. The Naked Gun came out in 1988 and tracked Nielsen as Frank Drebin, an incompetent police detective who must foil a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II by turning innocent people into assassins through mind control.