The Naked Gun reboot may be winning over fans now, but it almost didn’t happen. According to director Akiva Schaffer , Paramount wasn’t immediately sold on the idea, even with Liam Neeson attached as the lead.

Neeson's turn as Frank Drebin Jr. in Paramount's reboot of The Naked Gun has reignited interest in slapstick comedies and brought new life to a classic franchise. The film's strong box office performance and overwhelmingly positive critical reception prompted speculation about possible sequels.

“Because we’re all fucked. And we need a few giggles,” he told Variety Monday at the movie’s New York City premiere. He delivered the line in the deadpan style of his on-screen persona, Frank Drebin Jr., the biological (and spiritual) heir to Leslie Nielsen’s iconic police lieutenant. The character last graced the big screen in 1994.