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 (via, of course, the likes of the Airplane! movies) 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, aiming to put old pal Neeson into a new movie. He had Family Guy veterans Mark Hentemann and Alec Sulkin work up a script.
Lonely Island veteran and Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers director Akiva Schaffer is calling the shots for this one, which also has Pamela Anderson co-starring with Neeson. Hauser, who recently landed the role of Chris Farley in a new biopic, will be playing Captain Ed Hocken, Drebin's boss as brought to screens by George Kennedy in the films and Police Squad! by Alan North.