Liam Neeson hints at retiring from action films as 'Taken' star hesitates to 'fool audiences' at 72

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Liam Neeson is likely to bid farewell to the action-packed movies despite still displaying the energy of someone half his age.

Famous for his leading role in the 'Taken' franchise, Neeson has been portraying revenge-driven characters for years.

But now, he appears ready to leave behind the high-octane action scenes.

Liam Neeson’s iconic career in drama and action films

The Irish star, Liam Neeson, is known for starring in some of the top-rated dramas over the past few decades besides the action-packed franchise. 

Neeson first rose to prominence with his powerful performance in 'Schindler’s List', earning him an Oscar nomination.

He later took on memorable roles such as Jedi Master in the 'Star Wars' franchise and a charming widower in the beloved holiday film 'Love Actually'.

In the 'Taken' franchise, which began in 2009, Neeson cemented himself as an action star. In 2022 he appeared in 'Marlowe'.

Liam Neeson is known for filming his own action scenes

Even though his stunt double, Mark Vanselow, handles the most intense stunts, Liam Neeson is known for filming his own fight scenes.

“I’m 72 — it has to stop at some stage,” Neeson told People, referring to all the action he dies in his movies.

“You can’t fool audiences," he said, adding, "I don’t want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me.”

Neeson hinted that he will retire from stunt-heavy roles in the coming year.

“Maybe the end of next year,” Neeson shared, referencing 2025 as the likely time when he will exit the action genre. “I think that’s it,” he added, signaling that his time leading action films might be coming to a close.

Liam Neeson’s upcoming role in ‘The Naked Gun’ reboot and 'Absolution'

Liam Neeson stars in 'Absolution', a story about a low-level criminal and boxer suffering from CTE who seeks revenge against some particularly nefarious individuals.

The movie is hitting theaters on November 1, 2024.

Moreover, Neeson is still set to lead the action-comedy 'The Naked Gun' reboot, where he will play hapless cop Frank Drebin Jr alongside Pamela Anderson.

Neeson has referred to the project as a “silly” movie and is uncertain whether the comedy will resonate.

“Whether I can carry it or not, I honestly don’t know,” Neeson admitted.

Anderson, however, has confidence in Neeson’s comedic abilities. “He’s being humble,” she said. “It was hard to keep a straight face in scenes together,” she added.