While Liam Neeson has carved out a career in his late 50s and early 60s as an ass-kicking, take-no-prisoners action hero in “Taken,” “Taken 2,” “Non-Stop,” “Unknown” and “The Grey,” with “Run All Night” in the can and “Taken 3” shooting, this renaissance might have come earlier in his career.
Speaking with Hull Daily Mail (via Dark Horizons), Neeson reveals he was pursued for one of the most famous franchise stars in the history of cinema—James Bond. This would have been in the era after Timothy Dalton, where a number of contenders were looked at for the role that eventually went to Pierce Brosnan. So why did Neeson bow out?
“I was heavily courted, let’s put it that way, and I’m sure some other actors were too,” he explained. “It was about 18 or 19 years ago and my wife-to-be [Natasha Richardson] said, ‘If you play James Bond we’re not getting married!’ And I had to take that on board, because I did want to marry her.”
Liam Neeson: Oscar nominee, action star and husband of the year? Guess so, but if Eon Productions ever wants to change gears when Daniel Craig is done, maybe they should circle back to Neeson…
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
