Over the past two decades, Liam Neeson has become an unexpected force in the action movie world — but now, at 73, he’s ready to put the genre behind him.
Speaking to Variety in an interview published August 1, the "Naked Gun" star reflected on his long-running action career and hinted that it may be coming to an end.
“The first Taken was 18 years ago, I was 54. Feels like a lifetime ago,” Neeson said. “I still get offered the occasional one. But I’m 73, for f--k’s sake.”
Liam Neeson admitted that getting older has made it harder for him to perform action scenes the way he used to.
“I don’t want to insult audiences if they’re watching whole fight scenes and it’s not me. I just wouldn’t do it,” he continued. “Up until recently, I liked doing my own fight stuff. But I don’t want to be doing that stuff with a Zimmer frame or walking stick.”
Still, Neeson hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to action roles in the future — though nothing has been confirmed.
Neeson is currently stepping into comedy with his latest film, "Naked Gun", which hit theaters on Friday. When Variety asked if comedy might be “a nice, gentler, less fighter genre to move into,” he responded, “Sure. Yeah. But I’m a big believer in writers and the script. That’s the foundation stone, no matter what the genre.”
