Liam Neeson reveals plan to retire from action movies
After more than 15 years in the action trenches, Liam Neeson has revealed he intends to retire from the genre by the end of 2025.
The star – who became synonymous with action after the unexpected success of Taken in 2008 – has worked tirelessly in the genre over the last 15 years. His recent movies include thrillers such as In the Land of Saints and Sinners and Retribution, but Neeson wants to ensure that he doesn’t ignore other sides of his acting repertoire during the time that’s left in his career.
In a new interview with People magazine, Neeson shared his rough plan to bow out gracefully in a year or so. “I’m 72 — it has to stop at some stage,” the Absolution star admitted.
Neeson explained that he didn’t want to start leaving all his fight choreography to long-time stunt collaborator Mark Vanselow, as audiences are hyper-aware of when actors aren’t doing their own stunts these days. He said, “You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want Mark to be fighting my fight scenes for me.”
When pushed about when exactly he planned to ride off into the sunset, he wouldn’t commit to an exact date. However, he did offer, “Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it.”
Liam Neeson’s previous ‘retirements’ from action movies
This isn’t the first time Neeson has hinted that he’s living on borrowed time as an action star. Back in 2017 – at the age of 65 – he told Sky News that studios were still sending him very enticing offers to pick up a gun. Still, he felt the believability of his action exploits was already diminishing. He joked, “I’m like, ‘Guys, I’m sixty-fucking-five.’ Audiences are eventually going to go, ‘Come on.'”
This quote led to reports that Neeson was retiring from the genre, but two weeks later, he set the record straight. At the premiere of Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House, Neeson confirmed rumours of his retirement were greatly exaggerated. He smiled, “It’s not true, look at me! You’re talking in the past tense. I’m going to be doing action movies until they bury me in the ground. I’m unretired.”
Fast forward to 2022, and a 69-year-old Neeson was ruminating on his status as the old man of action again. He told Sunday TODAY, “I turn 70 this year, so I’m still getting away with it. I think the action movies will draw to a close — they have to. Audiences aren’t stupid, you know. They’re gonna go, ‘Oh, fuck this guy, Liam Neeson. He’s got to be 71, 72, 73.’ I’ll stop at some stage.”
As he told People, though, he still enjoys making action movies, even at an advanced age. He mused, “I like doing it. The scripts are good. I’m kind of like a kid in a candy store.”
Perhaps that candy store will stay open a little longer than 2025 – but only time will tell.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.