Taken actor Liam Neeson has revealed that he is considering retiring from starring in action movies next year.
The Northern Irish actor, 72, is known for playing the tough protagonist in crime thrillers including in the three Taken movies, as well as Retribution and In The Land of Saints And Sinners, both released in 2023.
His upcoming films also include the thriller Hotel Tehran.
Neeson told People magazine: “I’m 72 — it has to stop at some stage.
“You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want (my Taken stunt double) Mark (Vanselow) to be fighting my fight scenes for me.”
The Oscar-nominated actor added: “Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it.”
However, he seemed concerned about turning to comedy in a new reboot of The Naked Gun, based on the original franchise starring by Canadian actor and comedian Leslie Nielsen.
“Whether I can carry it or not, I honestly don’t know,” he said to the US publication.
Neeson will also play the staggeringly inept detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Nielsen) as the slapstick series is set to return in 2025 in a production directed by The Lonely Island member Akiva Schaffer.
The Northern Irish actor has made more than 100 films and earned an Academy Award nomination for Schindler’s List, where he played the title character of factory owner Oskar Schindler who tried to save his Jewish employees during the Second World War.
Neeson also starred in 2023’s Marlowe, about a brooding, down-on-his-luck detective hired to find the former lover of a glamorous heiress in Los Angeles.
The role of detective Phillip Marlowe is based on the famous character created by American-British author Raymond Chandler.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel