Liam Neeson’s latest role is a total drag — and we’re living for it. In a move no one saw coming, the 72-year-old action star is swapping his tough-guy image for strawberry panties and a plaid miniskirt in the new Naked Gun reboot, hitting theaters August 1. And yes, it’s as gloriously ridiculous as it sounds.
The trailer for the new film dropped this week and instantly lit up the internet with its campy energy. In one standout scene, a hostage situation at a bank is hilariously interrupted by what appears to be a schoolgirl licking a lollipop. But when one of the robbers leans in and asks, “What do you want, little one?” — the girl dramatically rips off her mask to reveal it’s none other than Liam Neeson, decked out in full schoolgirl drag. It’s giving action hero meets anime cosplay, and frankly, we didn’t have “Liam Neeson in strawberry panties” on our 2025 bingo card.
Neeson plays Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the original bumbling detective portrayed by Leslie Nielsen. The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer and boasts a star-studded cast including Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Pamela Anderson, and yes, there’s even a nod to O.J. Simpson. The film doesn’t hold back on the slapstick or the raunch: at CinemaCon, preview clips showed Neeson literally beating a suspect with dismembered arms, and sharing a mysteriously suggestive encounter with Anderson’s character. One of his standout lines? “It says you’ve served 20 years for man’s laughter. Must have been quite the joke.”
But beyond the slapstick and absurdity, Neeson stepping into drag on screen — even in a parody — reflects a broader trend of queering mainstream comedy. It’s a cheeky wink to queer audiences who’ve long understood the subversive power of drag, and in a media landscape where LGBTQ+ representation is constantly under debate, moments like this make a splash. Whether intentional or not, Neeson’s schoolgirl drag fantasy walks the line between homage and hilarity, and helps keep queer-coded humor alive in the mainstream.
Of course, the film will likely stir up mixed reactions — some may say it’s just another cishet man playing dress-up for laughs. But there’s no denying the camp factor is dialed up to eleven. And as any gay will tell you, sometimes, camp is a revolution all on its own.
So, is Naked Gun giving us queer cinema? Not quite. But is it giving us Liam Neeson in strawberry panties and a wink to drag culture on the silver screen? Absolutely. And for that, we tip our wigs.