Netflix Losing Legendary Action Star’s Most Thrilling Movies

The first film in the Taken franchise marks Liam Neeson’s introduction to the action-thriller genre. The role of Bryan Mills, the franchise’s primary protagonist, was originally offered to Jeff Bridges, who eventually dropped out of the project. When Liam Neeson was offered the role, he graciously accepted because he wanted to be involved with a project that was more physically demanding than what he was used to. In other words, Liam Neeson starred in his first action blockbuster film at the at age of 56. Normally, actors who are approaching their 60s look for more subdued roles, but surprisingly, Neeson was just beginning to get his feet wet. Funnily enough, Neeson accepted the lead role in Taken under the assumption that the film would be a one-off and released directly to video.

But the first film was so successful that it spawned a trilogy and marked the beginning of Liam Neeson’s career as an action movie star 30 years after he started acting professionally.