- Liam Neeson plans to retire from action movies in late 2025, citing age as a significant factor in his decision.
- He acknowledges that “it has to stop at some stage,” reflecting on the physical demands of his roles.
- Neeson performs his own fight scenes but expresses concern about misleading audiences regarding his capabilities.
- He is set to star in a reboot of the Naked Gun, potentially shifting to comedic roles.
- His iconic character from Taken remains a cultural touchstone, yet he feels uncertain about transitioning to comedy.
Hollywood actor Liam Neeson has revealed he plans to retire from making action movies next year because he wants to bow out before he’s unable to convincingly throw a punch.
The 72-year-old actor has become known for his tough guy roles over the years since starring in 2008 thriller ‘Taken’ but fears his days of rough-and-tumble roles are coming to an end.
“I’m 72 – it has to stop at some stage. You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want [longtime stunt collaborator Mark Vanselow] to be fighting my fight scenes for me,” Neeson told PEOPLE. He added, “Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it.”
The actor is set to show off his comedy chops in his next movie – a reboot of Leslie Nielsen’s police comedy ‘The Naked Gun’. However, Neeson isn’t sure whether he will be able to swap action for funny roles going forward.
“Whether I can carry it or not, I honestly don’t know,”
he said.
In the interview, Neeson also revealed how his part in the ‘Taken’ franchise has infiltrated every part of his life. He confessed that a clerk at a New York court started reciting his speech from the first film when releasing him from jury duty.
Liam Neeson says he plans to retire from doing action films by the end of next year.
“I’m 72… it has to stop at some stage”
(Source: https://t.co/BahVOsts2l) pic.twitter.com/9AoY4PJwqa
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 23, 2024
“He gets to me, but all I’m hearing is, ‘I have a particular set of skills. Skills that would make me …'” Neeson recalled. “And I thought, ‘Oh f*** no’ … It was actually really sweet and flattering. As I was leaving, people started to applaud.”
Neeson previously expressed nervousness about taking on the role of Frank Drebin Jr. in the ‘Naked Gun’ reboot. He told MovieWeb.com,
“I’ve done a couple of, like, TV skits with Stephen Colbert and Ricky Gervais, but those were two minutes, three minutes tops. But I’m a bit nervous about ‘Naked Gun’, because it’s a feature film … There’s lots of funny gags, lots of funny visual gags happening at the same time while ‘serious things’ are being discussed, you know?…”
Neeson emphasized that the upcoming film is not a remake but a reboot.
“It’s a totally different thing … I’ll do my own thing. I remember Leslie very well. I love those films. Especially that first, ‘Airplane!’ You know, ‘Don’t call me Shirley’. Just that line alone, I think, changed Leslie’s career up until he passed away.”
With his planned retirement from action movies looming, fans may soon see less of Neeson in high-octane thrillers and more in comedic roles or other genres. However, the actor remains committed to his craft, even as he prepares to transition to a new phase of his acting career.
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Last Updated on October 23, 2024 by 247 News Around The World
