Liam Neeson has indicated that he intends to step away from action movies in the near future. Known for Schindler’s List, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Love, Actually, and the Taken series, the actor has been a regular star of action thrillers in recent years. Neeson’s next role has him playing an aging gangster in the upcoming crime thriller Absolution.
In a recent interview with People, Neeson doubled down on retiring from the action genre. He stated that with him turning 72, he had become aware of his limits and the limits audiences may have with his continued action roles, not wanting to reach a point where collaborator and stuntman Mark Vanselow was left to handle the majority of the work.
I’m 72 — it has to stop at some stage. You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me.
As such, Neeson stated that he expected to finally retire from action movies in 2025, leaving that chapter of his career behind him.
Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it,”
What Liam Neeson’s Plans Mean For His Career’s Future
Neeson’s Action Career Won’t Come To An Immediate Halt
While Neeson may be ready to put action movies behind him, he already has some movies either currently filming or in post-production. Following Retribution, Neeson has also wrapped principal photography on two upcoming action thrillers, Cold Storage and The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky, and is currently filming Hotel Tehran. As such, there are several projects audiences can look forward to from the actor.
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Furthermore, another project might suggest he may be willing to return to the genre under the right circumstances and approach. Neeson is set to take up the role of Frank Drebin Jr. in The Naked Gun reboot, which is expected to release in August 2025. As such, the actor may be open to remaining in the genre in the right circumstances, be it a less heavy focus on action, him not taking on a leading role, or holding a unique approach to the action.
Our Thoughts On Liam Neeson’s Future
Action Hasn’t Been The Actor’s Sole Focus
Though Neeson is ready to retire as an action lead, it is clear from his response that it isn’t the end of his acting career. While his recent career may have been dominated by action thrillers, he hasn’t limited himself to the genre, starring in many non-action projects and reprising his role of Qui-Gon Jinn on-screen and in animation.
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Source: People
Liam Neeson
Discover the latest news and filmography for Liam Neeson, known for Taken and Schindler’s List.
- Birthdate
- June 7, 1952
- Birthplace
- Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Height
- 6 feet 4 inches
- Professions
- Actor , Voice Actor