It’s been 15 years since legendary actor and comedianLeslie Nielsenpassed away, and Hollywood is set to pay tribute to his on-screen legacy this year with a highly anticipated new movie, which dropped its teaser trailer today. WithLiam Neeson leading the charge, an all-new iteration ofThe Naked Gunwill be released on August 1 and features a stellar cast alongside the seasoned veteran, including Golden Globe-winnerPaul Walter Hauser. MovieWeb just spoke with the scene-stealing performer while he was promoting his new filmThe Luckiest Man in America, hitting theaters this week. Hauser also shared his experience working onThe Naked Gunwith theTakenman himself,Liam Neeson.
“We were really trying to nail the tone. Akiva Schaffer, our director, was very tuned into what the Zucker brothers accomplished with that type of comedy. And I think we honor it in a real way, the same way thatCobra KaihonorsThe Karate Kidand the source material,” Hauser told us, referencing his role as Raymond ‘Stingray’ Porter in the Netflix series,Cobra Kai.
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Hauser continued:
“I have the feeling we did a good job in honoring our source material,Naked Gun. And there aren’t that many people that would fearlessly walk into that Leslie Nielsen-type role, and Liam did it incredibly well. I had times where he made me break character because he’s just doing the deadpan thing that he’s able to do with action and intensity, but the content of what he’s saying is so ridiculous. There were times where they yelled ‘cut,’ and it was like letting a balloon out, where I was just like, ‘Oh my god,’ you know? Just an exhausted laughter because you’re trying to keep it together during the take.”
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Portraying a “Gambling Addict” in ‘Luckiest Man in America’
Hauser also provides plenty of comedy — though a different brand — in his newest movie. He plays the eponymous mystery game show contestant inThe Luckiest Man in America, based on a true story of a seemingly innocent everyman who tries his hand (with a devious twist) at a game show calledPress Your Luck. Hauser opened up to us about his latest juicy character:
“I want the house, with the wife and the kid. And what’s interesting is, I think some people can’t help themselves. They can justify it by saying, ‘I’m doing this for my family.’ But it’s like, ‘Are you?’ Like, you already have the family. You just probably have to work a 9-to-5 job and be content with mediocrity. I don’t think [my character] was content with that. I think he was a gambling addict. He liked the thrill, kind of like those Enron guys. You become like a thrill junkie.”
“So he clearly had some of that going on and was pretty wayward in being a grifter, rather than a father and husband,” added Hauser. “But I also empathize with him, empathize over the fact that he probably just had a chip on his shoulder, a chip on his spirit, and he was trying to prove something, too.” From IFC Films,The Luckiest Man in Americawill be released in theaters on Friday, July 12, 2025. Watch the teaser trailer forThe Naked Gunbelow:
The Luckiest Man in America
An unemployed ice cream truck driver discovers a pattern that could make him rich on a popular 1980s game show. As he exploits the loophole, his winning streak draws the attention of suspicious network executives, leading to a tense showdown between one man’s determination and corporate scrutiny.
