Liam Neeson has clarified his previous comments regarding his eventual retirement from the action film genre. Over the course of roughly the last 15 years, Neeson has undergone a change in his career unlike most actors. While it's common for action movie stars to begin their careers in the genre and move on to other genres in later years, Neeson took the opposite approach. Known early on for acclaimed work in films like Schindler's List and Michael Collins, his career branched off in the unlikely direction of action fare in later years.
But while it was 2008's Taken that really made Neeson's fanbase expand and solidified his familiarity as an action hero, it's also easy to forget that his fondness for the action genre was apparent early on. His roles in films like Darkman, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York may not have exactly been the same sort of fare that his later work offered, but they did familiarize audiences with Neeson as the sort of actor who wasn't afraid to meet physical demands and take on work with violent themes or scenes. Still, Taken was a definite game-changer in Neeson's career, making him an overnight action sensation thanks to his "particular set of skills" monologue.
In recent years, Neeson, now 69, has said that he won't be a part of the action genre for much longer. Originally stating that he likely had only a couple more films left in him before retirement, Neeson recently spoke with Today (via Cinemablend) and clarified that comment by admitting that he'll "stop at some stage." The senior action hero pointed out that audience skepticism would be inevitable should he try and continue on in the genre into his 70s. Read his full comment below:
I turn 70 this year, so I’m still getting away with it. I think the action movies will draw to a close — they have to. Audiences aren’t stupid, you know. They’re gonna go, ‘Oh, f*ck this guy, Liam Neeson. He’s got to be 71, 72, 73...’ I’ll stop at some stage.
Interestingly enough, Neeson originally made similar comments regarding the possibility of more Taken sequels, mocking the idea that his daughter should get kidnapped again and pointing out that audiences wouldn't go for it. Yet that inevitably didn't stop him from returning to the role of Bryan Mills for two sequels. The Taken franchise consistently proved itself to be a lucrative undertaking for Neeson, and this was clearly a solid enough reason to continue doing it. But Neeson's post Taken films haven't found the same degree of success, despite playing to dedicated Neesonists who enjoy not only the action in the films, but also the somewhat humorous manner in which Neeson consistently turns into a one-man army.
It could be that Liam Neeson's action days will soon be behind him, with the star having acknowledged that he could be setting his sights on comedy next in a Naked Gun reboot. If he continues making action films, however, it might be that audiences won't necessarily balk at a 70-something-year-old man taking on gangsters and terrorists. Instead, it could have more to do with the fact that Neeson seems to chase after the same (now tired) concept of his characters having his family stolen from him, prompting a dangerous solo mission. If he decided to branch out within the action genre, there could definitely be more gas left in his action-icon tank.
Source: Today (via Cinemablend)
