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Liam Neeson Says He Will Soon Retire from Action Films

By Michael Bamidele

16 January 2021   |   8:05 am

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Liam Neeson has announced that he will soon retire from the action film genre after he finishes with a "couple more" films that are already in the works. The 68-year-old actor, who experienced a career renaissance after starring in 2008 action-thriller "Taken", told Entertainment Tonight that, after this year, he plans to stop doing action…

Liam Neeson in “Taken”

Liam Neeson has announced that he will soon retire from the action film genre after he finishes with a “couple more” films that are already in the works.

The 68-year-old actor, who experienced a career renaissance after starring in 2008 action-thriller “Taken”, told Entertainment Tonight that, after this year, he plans to stop doing action films.

“I’m 68 and a half — 69 this year. There’s a couple more I’m going to do this year — hopefully, COVID allowing us — there’s a couple in the pipeline and, then I think that will probably be it. Well, unless I’m on a Zimmer frame or something.”

In his latest film, “The Marksman”, Neeson plays an ex-Marine turned reclusive rancher who must protect an 11-year-old boy from drug cartel assassins.

“I love doing ’em. I love beating up guys half my age,” he said, though he admitted he had something of a revelation while filming his next film, Blacklight.

“I’ve just finished one in Australia and I had a fight scene with a kid — lovely, sweet actor called Taylor — and halfway through the fight I looked up, I was breathless and it didn’t cost him a cent, and I said, ‘Taylor, what age are you?’ He said, ’25.'” Neeson laughs, “I said, ‘That’s the age of my eldest son!'”

Neeson had also previously told ET he was done with superhero films. “I have no desire to go into the gym for three hours every day to pump myself up to squeeze into a Velcro suit with a cape”, he said.

ET reported that fans are campaigning for him to reprise his role as Zeus from Clash of the Titans in Wonder Woman 3.

“I guess so, sure. I mean, I’m very flattered!” he says, before disclaiming, “I wasn’t aware that the ancient Greek gods appeared in Wonder Woman. I have to say, much to my chagrin, I haven’t seen kind of the Wonder Woman movies.” When informed that, indeed, they do and Zeus is father to Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, he grinned, “I’ll call my agent!”

Born Liam John Neeson, Neeson has been nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and three Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. He is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.