First look at new Naked Gun movie fans have waited 30 years for

The newest instalment in a much-loved movie franchise that’s grossed half a billion dollars at the box office is finally coming.

Fans have been given a first look today at the latest instalment in a movie franchise that’s lain dormant for more than 30 years.

Liam Neeson stars in The Naked Gun, taking over the franchise from legendary comedian Leslie Nielsen, who died in 2010 aged 84.

Nielsen had starred in three Naked Gun films: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994). The films, which together cost around $US65 million to make, raked in almost half a billion dollars at the box office.

This first teaser trailer shows the Irish actor, best known for his dramatic and action roles, showing off his comedy chops, going deep undercover as a lollipop-licking schoolgirl to foil a bank robbery.

Comedy legend Leslie Nielsen made the first three films a huge success.

Now Liam Neeson takes on the franchise.

It’s also revealed in the trailer that Neeson’s character, Drank Drebin Jr., is actually the son of Nielsen’s Frank Drebin.

One hilarious moment shows Drebin Jr paying loving tribute to a picture of his father hanging in the police station. In an oh-so-Naked Gun sight gag, the camera shot then widens to reveal 10 officers are also on bended knee, paying tearful tributes to photos of their late fathers.

One officer is less emotional, though: His father is Officer Nordberg, played by OJ Simpson in the original films.

The trailer features Neeson deep undercover as a schoolgirl …

… and a very dark joke about former star OJ Simpson.

Former athlete Simpson’s acting career ground to a halt when he was accused of the murder of his estranged wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman – the pair were violently murdered in June 1994, just months after the third Naked Gun film was released.

Simpson, who died last year, was found not guilty in a murder trial but was later found liable for the murders in a civil suit.

In a darkly comic moment that ends the teaser trailer, Nordberg’s son looks up to his father’s headshot, then glances into the camera as he shakes his head disapprovingly.

Released in cinemas on August 28, The Naked Gun is directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and produced by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

Originally published as First look at new Naked Gun movie fans have waited 30 years for