Liam Neeson had a strange career. For the longest time he was considered a serious dramatic artist – the type of actor who appeared in titles such as Schindler’s List. Then came Taken, the 2008 movie that inexplicably turned Neeson into an action hero. Since then Taken, Neeson clings to his action star status – a move that has sometimes fallen back, as in the dark drama The gray was mistakenly marketed as a movie about Neeson fisting with wolves instead of the disturbing meditation on death. Now, it looks like Neeson is ready to step out of action movies. Then again … he’s said it before.
The statement about Liam Neeson retiring from action movies comes from an interview given by the actor ET (via The Independent). Asked if he is done with action roles, Neeson responded in the affirmative, although he also added that he still has a few action films in the works. But once the movies are done, he’s ready to name it. ‘Oh, yes. I think so. I’m 68 and a half. “There are a few more I’m going to do this year – hopefully, Covid allows us – there are a few in the pipeline and then I think it will probably be,” Neeson said.
Neeson’s latest, The artist, arrives this month, and his next action-packed movie is called Something The ice road. He also plays an assassin in a subsequent film Memory. After that? He’s done! Unless, of course, he is not. Because we’ve been here before. In 2015, Neeson was asked the same question, saying he would probably make another action movie in a year or two, adding: If God spares me and I am healthy. But after that I stop [the action], I think. I’m in a very, career wise, good place. [After] the success of probably the Taken movies, it seems like Hollywood sees me in a different light. I get quite a few action-oriented scripts, which are great. I’m not beating it. It’s very flattering. But there is, of course, a limitation. ‘
By 2017, however, Neeson stepped back and said, ‘That’s not true, look at me! You’re talking in the past tense. I’m going to do action movies until they bury me in the ground. I’m not retired. It’s also noteworthy that Neeson’s career is not as hot as it used to be, mainly due to racially charged remarks he made during an interview about the release of his film. Cold pursuit in 2019.
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