If you’re like me, you spent half your childhood watching the Naked Gun movies, laughing until your face turned numb, and secretly wondering how that O.J. Simpson guy managed to appear in a feature film. Well, looks like the ’80s comedy is getting reloaded with an A-list star up-front: According to Variety, Ed Helms (aka Andy from The Office) has signed on to play notoriously bumbling Detective Frank Drebin in a new film, following in the footsteps of the legendary Leslie Nielsen. The project is being co-written by Thomas Lennon and R. Ben Garant.
Who knows if this will be a good film? The last time an Office veteran attempted espionage on the big screen, the results were pretty abysmal. But it’s good news for Helms, whose recent attempt to reboot the Vacation franchise has unfortunately fizzled out. (I could see Helms making one hell of a Griswold, actually.)
The Naked Gun franchise (which included 1988’s From the Files of Police Sqaud!, 1991’s 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear and 1994’s 33 1/3: The Final Insult was created by the parody-driven trio Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker (ZAZ). It’s unclear whether or not any of these folks will have any involvement in the new project.
As we all sit around and imagine what Ed Helms as Frank Drebin might look like, enjoy this blast from the past. “Steeeeee-riiiike!”
