The Naked Gun (2025) uses surprise appearances for two kinds of laughs: callbacks to the earlier films and abrupt interruptions of its straight-faced police-action setup. The best-explained example is Dave Bautista briefly taking Liam Neeson’s place as Frank Drebin Jr. in the climax. Director Akiva Schaffer estimated that there are “like 50 cameos,” but that is an approximate count—not a confirmed total or a complete list.
Who are the surprise cameos in The Naked Gun?
A cameo guide from ComingSoon identifies Priscilla Presley, Weird Al Yankovic, Dave Bautista, Cody Rhodes and Busta Rhymes. Its descriptions suggest the appearances range from franchise callbacks to quick character gags; the guide is not an official or exhaustive cast list.
| Performer | Appearance described by ComingSoon | What the cameo adds |
|---|---|---|
| Priscilla Presley | Reacts to Frank’s televised embarrassment | A callback to the earlier films, where she played Jane Spencer |
| Weird Al Yankovic | Appears as himself at a performance in the antagonist’s bunker | A connection to the original franchise cast |
| Dave Bautista | Steps in as Frank during the climax | A sudden, self-aware casting swap |
| Cody Rhodes | Plays a bartender | A brief character appearance |
| Busta Rhymes | Plays a bank robber | A brief character appearance |
The five names and scene descriptions come from ComingSoon’s cameo guide. Paramount’s official announcement identifies the franchise’s earlier films as The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult.
Why does Dave Bautista appear as Frank Drebin?
Bautista’s cameo turns the climax into a joke about star casting: a recognizable action performer briefly takes over the hero’s role, puncturing the scene’s earnest police-action tone. It is a deliberate substitution, not a new lead or a recasting of Frank for the rest of the film.
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Schaffer told CinemaBlend that the script called for an instantly recognizable action star and that Bautista was the only person the filmmakers asked. Producer Erica Huggins described him as their choice from the beginning: “It was a short list and he was the guy, like from the beginning. We thought he would be awesome.” The comments are reported in CinemaBlend’s interview report.
How do Presley and Yankovic connect the new film to the originals?
Presley and Yankovic are the clearest callbacks among the named cameos. ComingSoon identifies Presley with Jane Spencer, her role in the earlier films, and says Yankovic was also part of the original franchise cast. Recognizing them adds a second layer to their brief appearances, but the gags do not depend on knowing the trilogy.
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Paramount’s announcement presents Frank Drebin Jr. as following in his father’s footsteps and lists the principal cast, including Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu and Danny Huston. That context helps distinguish the new film’s continuing family connection from the cameos that briefly interrupt its story.
Why cast Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr.?
The casting uses the contrast between Neeson’s serious action-star image and the deadpan absurdity associated with the Naked Gun films. Schaffer said the idea grew out of a conversation with Seth MacFarlane after they worked together on Ted 2, where Neeson had a funny cameo. They shared an appreciation for ZAZ—Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker—and MacFarlane floated Neeson as a possible Frank Drebin. Neeson agreed, Schaffer told The Credits.
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Are there really about 50 cameos?
Schaffer told The Credits that the film has “like 50 cameos” by very famous, busy people. The word “like” matters: it signals an estimate, not a verified production count, and the named examples available in published coverage do not amount to a complete official list.
Schaffer also said filming in Los Angeles made it easier to secure cameo appearances. He recalled that while making Popstar, the team worried they might not get them if production took place elsewhere. That explains the practical advantage he associated with the location, not a guarantee that any particular performer would appear.
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Where can you watch the film and compare the callbacks?
Paramount announced a U.S. and Canada Paramount+ debut for The Naked Gun on September 30, 2025, and said the three earlier films were available on the service at that time. This is a dated announcement, not confirmation of current availability; check the service’s listings for your territory.
For callback context, compare the new film with the trilogy titles in Paramount’s announcement. That source confirms the film names, but does not establish current DVD or Blu-ray availability, a particular edition, or included extras.
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