Support NeoGAF

[Yen]

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/e...un-reboot-for-paramount-exclusive-1200950237/

Detective Frank Drebin is coming back with Ed Helms on board to portray Leslie Nielsen’s character in Paramount’s reboot of “The Naked Gun” comedy franchise.

The studio has tapped the scripting team of Thomas Lennon and R. Ben Garant — best known for the “Night at the Museum” and “Reno 911″ franchises, to write the screenplay as a new spin on the Drebin character.

Helms starred in “The Hangover” trilogy and “We’re the Millers” and recently recently wrapped “Stretch” opposite Chris Pine and Patrick Wilson. He stars in the romcom parody “They Came Together,” which will premiere at Sundance, opposite Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.

Paramount released “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!” in 1988 with Nielsen battling Ricardo Montalban’s character plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II at a baseball game in Los Angeles. Sequels “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” and “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” followed in 1991 and 1994; the three films cumed $275 million.

 

[TrumanBurbank]

STOP WITH THE REBOOTS AND REMAKES.

Enough , Jesus.

 

[strafer]

for fuck sake

 

[Nerdkiller]

I can also see an Airplane remake...

Co-written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Adam Seltzer.

 

[genericsuperhero]

I haven't seen Ed Helms in any role that would imply he can match the dry straight man comedy that Leslie Nielsen did so well.

 

[Sickboy007]

 

[Stet]

NOPE

 

[MikeHattsu]

 

[Moff]

I cant see helms at all in this

 

[Count Dookkake]

Fuck off.

 

[Nicktendo86]

WHY?

 

[bjork]

No OJ no sale

 

[genericsuperhero]

This gif is too perfect for this thread.

 

[Strax]

No OJ no sale

Michael Vick takes his place

 

[captainnapalm]

Always a good idea to remake something you can't possibly improve upon.

 

[megashock5]

Nope, sorry - Frank Drebben IS Leslie Nielsen. Period.

 

[TUSR]

No. No. No.

 

[SolsticeZero]

The Naked Gun is NOTHING without Leslie Nielsen.

That about sums it up.

 

[VOOK]

He's not even COLD yet. For fucks sake.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

Not really an Ed Helms fan, but it doesn't really matter who they get it. No one will top, or get even get close, to Leslie Nielsen.

 

[Little Old Man]

And we're done here.

 

[H3xum]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I don't hate Ed Helms or anything but no way he can pull this roll off, hes too smarmy and not unassuming enough

 

[sohois]

This would be a bad idea with talented writers.

The masterminds behind 'Night at the museum' and 'Reno 911'? Who is going to watch this shit?

 

[Revolutionary]

Terrible idea. No one can replace Leslie

 

[Mindwipe]

Perfection.

 

[Skiptastic]

The reason Leslie worked so damn well is because he was spoofing EXACTLY the kinds of characters he would play in his earlier career. You shouldn't take a comedian and put him in this role. You need to get someone who's played serious cop roles and have them be Drebin. It would be like doing a lawyer spoof movie. You don't go get Dane Cook to be the serious lawyer who spouts one liners that are hilarious. You get Sam Waterston.

But yeah, this sounds really dumb. Police Squad and Naked Gun are different from something like Get Smart (which I actually liked that remake movie...) Casting Ed Helms just seems to underline the fact that the producers just don't get it.

 

[SJRB]

Ed Helms?!

God no. No. No no no no no. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

 

[TheOrangeKid007]

I first read this as Ed Harris and thought, hmm could work. Then I saw it was the guy from the office. Nope

 

[Schattenjäger]

This is a travesty of the worst kind

Worse than the karate kid remake or old boy

 

[Altazor]

nope.avi

this is perfect.

 

[captainnapalm]

Terrible idea. No one can replace Leslie

I've also yet to see anyone replicate what the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams, who made Naked Gun, Airplane, Hot Shots, Top Secret and all those films, did. They nailed a very specific tone. Good luck replicating that.

 

[Derrick01]

Nielsen was a god at those types of movies. This is the worst idea Hollywood's come up with yet.

 

[jonnyp]

STOP WITH THE REBOOTS AND REMAKES.

Enough , Jesus.

Amen.

 

[Ban Puncher]

Surely you are joking.

 

[GK86]

Reboots for all.

 

[LordCanti]

I'll accept this only if they can get OJ Simpson back on board.

No OJ no sale

Dammit.

 

[MikeHattsu]

I've also yet to see anyone replicate what the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams, who made Naked Gun, Airplane, Hot Shots, Top Secret and all those films, did. They nailed a very specific tone.

I would love if somebody could replicate that instead of getting all these shitty modern parody movies.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I first read this as Ed Harris and thought, hmm could work. Then I saw it was the guy from the office. Nope

Now I would pay good money to see Ed Harris in a Naked Gun movie.

 

[slabrock]

Please no. Stop doing this. Just stop.

 

[Hurley]

Ed Helms would have to be one of the worst choices for this role.

Leslie Nielson was that character, in every way, and picking Ed Helms of all people?

I've also yet to see anyone replicate what the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams, who made Naked Gun, Airplane, Hot Shots, Top Secret and all those films, did. They nailed a very specific tone. Good luck replicating that.

This.

 

[Kjellson]

Ed Helms doesn't even look like Enrico Pallazzo.

 

[alba]

Oh god, no.

 

[Ithil]

 

[The Elite]

Actually, Ed Helms would work quite well for this.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

Helms suuuucks

 

[SteveWinwood]

i read ed begley jr and thought it wouldn't be that bad

but then it wasnt him

 

[LiquidMetal14]

These kinds of movies have to be done absolutely perfectly if they are to even work.

 

[Anustart]

Some of my favorite movies of all time and the tv show was great too. This reboot? I can't say I have high hopes, but anything is possible.

 

[Sorcerer]

I haven't seen Ed Helms in any role that would imply he can match the dry straight man comedy that Leslie Nielsen did so well.

Never say never.

Nielsen did serious roles before Airplane/Naked Gun.

In fact in 87, in the movie Nuts with Barbara Streisand he portrays a would be rapist.

So bizarre seeing him in this role.


I am not necessarily saying Ed Helms will portray Dreben well, but Nielsen's transition into comedy seemed just as unlikely.

 

[GCX]

I've also yet to see anyone replicate what the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams, who made Naked Gun, Airplane, Hot Shots, Top Secret and all those films, did. They nailed a very specific tone. Good luck replicating that.

30 Rock's top seasons are the only thing that have come even close to Naked Gun style rapid fire deadpan humor in recent memory. It's a really hard form of comedy to master.