Cool News
The TAKEN Sequel Nabs Neeson!!
Merrick here...
THIS piece at Deadline is tracking developments on the oft-mentioned, slowly developing TAKEN sequel.
Although Luc Besson has already teamed with longtime collaborator Robert Mark Kamen to script the picture, one fly in the ointment....monkey in the wrench...pain in the ass...remained: there appeared to be a very good chance Liam Neeson wouldn't be reprising the Bryan Mills role he originated in Pierre Morel's 2008 original.
Deadline says this impasse wasn't due to money matters or interest - but scheduling conflicts which seemed so insurmountable that Besson apparently worked-up a wish list of contenders to replace Neeson (Mickey Rourke, Ralph Fiennes, Ray Winstone, Sean Bean and Jason Isaacs).
An update to Deadline's article now reveals that Neeson will, indeed, star in the project.
Liam Neeson and Luc Besson have come to a meeting of the minds and they have worked out the scheduling snafu that made him iffy for Taken 2. Neeson's reps at CAA are now closing the deal for Neeson to reprise what has become a signature role. Production is now being eyed for year end or beginning of 2012.
Find more insight into the matter HERE. Although now moot, that replacement list was interesting to be sure. My personal favorite would've been Jason Isaacs - a commanding screen presence who feels like he's yet to land a truly breakout role.
At the moment, Olivier Megaton - a director with one of the most badass names I've ever heard - is in talks to direct the new TAKEN. Megaton previously helmed the Besson-produced/co-written TRANSPORTER 3.
— follow Merrick on Twitter ! ---
Readers Talkback
comments powered by Disqus-
+ Expand All
-
Nuff said!
-
I don't know about that. But I'd be highly skeptical of a Neeson-less Taken sequel. Glad to hear he's on board.
-
Fuck, this girl is NOT worth the trouble she causes! For fuck's sake, did you raise her to be a complete nitwit?!
-
I love Luc Besson and TAKEN.
-
March 17, 2011, 11:31 a.m. CST
Please tell me it consists of Neeson punching people who piss him off
by ImMorganFreeman
Like, at the grocery store, in line at the DMV, the jerk who cuts him off on the highway...
-
Mickey Rourke?!? Jesus, that would have been hysterical. Everyone would have be asking him, "Dude, what the fuck happened to your face?!"
-
You pick.
-
Could work, right?
-
March 17, 2011, 11:40 a.m. CST
Neeson is kidnapped and it's up to his daugher to save him!
by David Cloverfield
This way Neeson can shoot his scenes in a weekend. But just to fuck with people, make it the exact same movie, right down to the cartoon harem scenes in the end where Neeson has to undress in front of his potential buyers! The daughter has to rescue interrogate drugged middle aged men! It's gold I tells ya! Hire me Hollywood!
-
In all honesty, I bet it's something to do with the girl from the first one who he protected at the concert. The singer? I bet she gets 'napped or something. MB
-
They are the same person
-
Liam has a big wanger ask the ladies of hollywood
-
I'm too lazy to click over to the actual article...
-
March 17, 2011, 11:51 a.m. CST
This is the ONLY TIME 'Electric Boogaloo' would be acceptable as a joke sequel title
by Yaroh_Meringue
Shabba Doo
-
Now You're going to be taken.
-
cmon. that has to be the title, right?
-
Make the action sequences more brutal and longer, and make Jean Claude return for a cameo to seek his vengeance.
-
Last week?
-
MEGATON!!! After Taken and Unknown I hope people will finally stop taking Neeson's shit. Give the man a break... But this has potential to be the new 'Die Hard' in a way, so they shuld call the next ones 'Taken 2: Take Harder' and 'Taken with a Vengence'
-
RIP Alfred.
-
Its no Die Hard. Not even by a long shot. It caught a lucky break and opened with good marketing at a slow time. That's it.
-
Treat Williams takes Liam Neeson to the fucking cleaners for cameoing in The Clone Wars.
-
Awesome. Best childhood ever.
-
Like "Dirk Turbo." Here that, fuckin' McG, you douche-whistle?!?!
-
Treat Williams as Karl Thommason going apeshit in Paris. Gary Busey to have one line 'God Bless America'
-
Too easy.
-
Would have been fun but fuck me hes a bit fat to be running around kicking the shit out of people ...
-
March 17, 2011, 12:16 p.m. CST
It'll either be his new wife or his ex that gets kidnapped....
by darthderp
...and the tag line (not the subtitle) will be a simple, "Good Luck."
-
March 17, 2011, 12:17 p.m. CST
Taken Again? Jeez.. give that girl a gun or teach her martial arts.
by impossibledreamers
-
I bet its his ex wi that gets taken. As long as they have Liam kicking the crap out of people then they can take whoever they want. I loved the first movie.
-
Luc Besson has carved out a nice action niche since the untimely death of his high profile directing career. The Fifth Element is criminally underrated. The films an absolute classic. Love his action films for the most part and they struck gold with Taken and a big part of that was Neeson. A sequel with out him would have been pointless, might have well just made the script as a new separate film.
-
In a much better world that would kill that project.
-
running like a spacker in 3D this time?
-
so why make a sequel?
-
...Will 28 year old Maggie Grace be back to play a 16 year old girl by using such sophisticated acting techniques as always staring wide-eyed and squealing "Oh my god" at high volume while lunging around like a drunken 5-year old?
-
March 17, 2011, 12:26 p.m. CST
Liam Neeson was the movie - You can't call it a Taken sequel without him
by Andy Pandy
-
March 17, 2011, 12:26 p.m. CST
'Taken' felt like a foreigner trying to emulate the making of an American movie
by Kamaji
From the 'familiar' blonde pop-star who Neeson and his associates protect, to the hero being a bullet-proof bad-@$$ and getting away with everything, the film just felt like a person saying, 'American movies are like this. I will make my movie like this.' I still do not understand why people like this movie. Action scenes are ok, but as an overall film, it just irks me, even the 'convenient ending.' If anything, I was hoping the guys at rifftrax would have riffed on it, as there's so many things to make fun of. Neeson: Here's 50. Handler: And another 10 for being an ---hole. Me: And another 10 for that midichlorian crap.
-
Lucky I only come here for the crap and talkbacks. PROPER movie websites are already reporting the death of Michael Gough and Aronofsky dropping out of Wolverine.
-
He was a great Alfred, a great actor and an outstanding human being.
-
Heh.
-
March 17, 2011, 12:37 p.m. CST
The sequel would flop without Neeson, no matter who replaces him
by brocknroll
That's kind of sad that Liam won't be playing the sequel. They should cancel the sequel if he won't do it 'cause Liam Neeson is not replaceable. End of story.
-
Liam Neeson was the only thing halfway decent about the derivitive, mostly forgettable original, so methinks it was critical to get him back. He elevated the project to the point that scenarios that would have been completely ridiculous became somewhat enjoyable. Would be interesting to see him and his daughter switch roles in the sequel though...even to the point where Liam's the one drugged to the hilt, dressed up in a bikini and heels, and paraded in front of a bunch of ruthless billionaires.
-
March 17, 2011, 12:51 p.m. CST
i already saw a Taken 2 Movie this year and it's called..
by Stalkeye
..The Man from Nowhere. Korean badassery ensues in this derivative, yet entertaining action/drama flick. Simply put, it's a Movie with heart and seoul. oops!
-
"Neeson is back! And The shit has hit the fan"!
-
Coming after Neeson and his family. Starting with the rich step dad. It seem's to me he would have pissed off alot of top G's with his action's in the first one. I can't see him getting off so lightly and that some powerfull people will want retribution.
-
He picked the wrong country to mess with!
-
With Robert Blake as the head of the kidnapping gang
-
The Substitute 2? Really? Classy as hell.
-
He was in it.
-
But never fuck with an Irishmen.
-
Is an awesome title purplemoose!
-
... was the daughter. She was annoyingly chipper (which I could get over for the start of the film) but AFTER she went through the ordeal and AFTER she had lost her best friend, AFTER all that hell she went through, at the end of this film, she went back to "annoyingly chipper." She didn't seem phased at all by the ordeal and instead was in the arms of her daddy happy and playing all "cute as a button." That killed the movie completely for me. Anyone going through such an ordeal would have a very different outlook on life after enduring all that. I guess the studio wanted the audience to be all happy and pleased at the end, and I am not asking for a happy ending, but her attitude was absolutely unrealistic and unbelievable. Sure, make a Taken 2, but ease up on the ditzy daughter a bit. The first reality slap didn't take hold, kidnap her again I guess and mature her up a bit.
-
Are you shitting me? Neeson has that gentleman's composure to disguise the fact that he would chop everyone off at the neck and elbow. Rourke doesn't have the subtlety. It would just be Marv rampaging through Sin City all over again (which I admit, I could watch).
-
March 17, 2011, 2:04 p.m. CST
It's not like replacing Vin Diesel with Ice Cube
by Huey_Freemans_afro
-
That was the exact same reason why I hated that movie. If a girl goes into the sex slave industry, there is absolutely no way in hell she is coming out a virgin. Even if they rescued her after 1 day. If you're going to attempt to approach a dark subject like that. At least do it some justice and show the dark side!
-
"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you. " I love this movie!
-
Maybe in TAKEN VS DEMONIC TOYS or whatever they call the sequel, we'll see Neeson calling on Leland Orser and his other badass buddies who didn't get a look in during the first movie.
-
I finally saw Taken last week. I enjoyed it, but I was surprised to see in the end credits that Maggie Grace of Lost played the daughter. She must have been taking the piss, right? Other than the box office success, I don't see the need for a sequel. If they made it without Neeson, it would be like Speed 2 without Keanu, or XXX2 without Marblehead Diesel (even though XXX was crap anyway).
-
I agree with palimpset. I want to see the team in action.
-
It proved he has awesome potential as an action star. I think the Taken formula should be as follows: 1. He's doing something unofficial to help someone. 2. He's in a foreign country. 3. He's really, really pissed off. But no more stories about his daughter, thanks.
-
Or . . . MisTAKEN You choose.
-
i hope you die, I agree. The first TAKEN had Neeson killing Frenchies, Eastern Europeans, and Arabs. It was a smorgasbord of foreign fodder. I'm thinking Neeson in the far east. Taking out Koreans, Chinese, and snooty British types.
-
That role is iconic for Neeson. Looking forward to the sequel.
-
See, the bad guys re-kidnap the girl . . .
-
leave out the daugter and ex wife. his team is on a mission to kill some terrorist leader. it goes bad a couple of them die, a couple are in the hands of the terrorist and neeson goes after the two who have been "taken" because the goverment wont do anything to get them back. so give 100 min of neeson kicking the shit outta everyone to get his buddies back. and the title taken still makes sense.
-
Neeson's character has a chance encounter with a Dr. Emmett Brown . . . and a certain Marty McFly . . . Yadda . . . yadda . . . yadda "Good Luck"
-
As much as I love the guy I have to agree with Muppet, that just wouldn't have worked. What might have been interesting in a Neeson-less Taken would be making the protagonist a woman of equal age/standing.
-
March 17, 2011, 2:56 p.m. CST
tomandshell - Look Who's Taken gets my vote. Laughed my ass off.
by DiamondJoe
-
Famke gets kidnapped by grimey London gangster types like those that perpetually inhabit Guy Ritchie films. Liam (an Irishman through-and-through) spends two hours enjoying the hell out of breaking Limey necks. Amazing final showdown between Neeson and Jason Stratham. Liam finally kills the head gangster by dropping him in to a pit full of pigs or crawfish or armadillos or whatever to be thoroughly eaten. Liam returns Famke to rich guy current husband and dorfy-acting Maggie Grace.
-
I'll let you work out your own plot for that one
-
March 17, 2011, 3 p.m. CST
Taken The Piss: (out of Bryan is a bad idea 'cause he'll rip any European's head off)
by DiamondJoe
-
The fact she was a virgin was why she was so expensive at the end. They obviously sell for more, she may have been checked in an unsavoury way though, and I would have liked to have seen that sure.
-
He was such a badass in Taken. I would love to see him to kick some unholy ass! Go Neeson! But...As a matter a fact, Rourke is not a bad idea either. But if it's Taken, it's Neeson-time! Don't do it without him
-
Beyonce-Look-Alike hires Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) as her security, only to find out that she has a manager (great cameo part for Kanye West) that has sold her out to a Libyan dictator. All of Arabia comes to the Libyan dictator's defense when Bryan tries to extricate her, and Bryan has to call in his old crew to finish the task. There ya go! You can pay me in Canadian loonies and toonies, Luc and Liam.
-
March 17, 2011, 4:35 p.m. CST
SUBSTITUTE V could be made with Coke/Whore budget for this movie.
by SmokieGeezer
Kneeeel before Karl Thommason. Treat gotta Eat!
-
the dumb era of his career. but its not the first time an actor has done this. sly and arnie spent most of the 1980s doing the same kind of films.
-
you heard it here first.heh. anyway i am glad Neeson will be back kicking ass.Who would have thought that an oscar-serious actor wouldve have become a cool action hero.I hope Besson wont fuck up with his script,i dont trust him very much in this department.
-
Moranis in talks to break retirement for cameo
-
in iron man 2 was atrocious to the point that I couldnt understand a word he said.
-
Dat's what I would call it.
-
TAKEN: To Space... and Beyond I would have preferred it to go the route of another ex-special forces dude or could even be a woman, who has to track down someone, either a relative again or some VIP. As suggested, I agree that Jason Isaacs would be a good choice to play the lead in a sequel.
-
that is all.
-
March 17, 2011, 6:27 p.m. CST
His daughter is kidnapped by Chinese...wait better make that North Koreans
by Cosmik
-
His grandson gets taken by a pedophile princess played by Natalie Portman.
-
I think it was the fact that they had a 25 year old actress playing a 16 year old girl. The portrayal felt totally unnatural
-
I loved the first Taken, ok so it was nothing original but it was extremelywell paced and rolled along at a rollicking rate and Neeson did kick ass in the picture! I can't really see though how they can do a sequel without it being contrived? I mean surely his daughter cant be kidnapped again? maybe his ex wife will get snatched this time around. That said many thought there couldnt be another die hard after the first one came out and looked what happened there!! Looking forward to some more badassery from Neeson but oliver megaton is a shit director - we'll see.
-
I win!
-
Spinal Tap is taken, and its up to Liam Neeson to get them back.
-
New girlfriend. He needs to be helping someone else, old friend, whatever. Otherwise you just sort of negate the first movie.
-
I have to say that every time I watch a storyline line this I want to get all biblically violent in retribution on the bad guys. Must be the chivalry in me.
-
March 17, 2011, 8:55 p.m. CST
cobra--kai's quote, thats the awesome trailer right there
by Smack_Teddy
and the end of it.
-
March 17, 2011, 9 p.m. CST
WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!! MEGATON = TRANSPORTER 3......MEGATRON = TRANSFORMERS 3.....WEIRD.
by gruemanlives
-
It's pretty obvious from his latest role selection that Neeson is searching for a franchise. Personally, I would love to see him do a one-and-done Bond flick.
-
March 17, 2011, 9:36 p.m. CST
Taken 2 Far: Coming Up With Clever Titles for Sequels
by BlackBauer0320
Loved the first movie, but what really propelled the action (to me) was the complete relentlessness he had because of it being his daughter that was kidnapped. Seems like it would be tough to recapture that type of emotion combined with baddassery again. I love that people bought into the marketing of Unknown as being another Taken. The two really couldn't be farther apart in quality. Unknown was awful. On a sidenote, I remain embarrassed for Maggie Grace and her portrayal of a teenager / jogging hunchback.
-
Neeson travels back in time to prevent them from taking his daughter in the first place. The entire movie is just him popping up randomly in time and TAKING them all out! They'll never see it coming!
-
"Where's moi daughtah, you fackin' cant?" I gotta say, the idea of Winstone as some badass martial arts skilled retired agent is bordering on comedy. He'd be huffing and puffing and wouldn't have been able to catch up with that airport spotter punk kid from the first film. Movie over after 15 minutes!
-
Greatest movie line ever Puloko.....I think you heard me just fine Punchy!
-
It's one of those films you can never turn from if you happen to stumble across it as you're channel surfing.
-
I think braindrain won the tb with his mars idea.. I hope it happens!
-
Would be great as "the bad guy" in the sequel. Although I'd like to see him try his hand at being the action lead in something very similar to this.
-
It was a very well written an executed thriller...that does not make the guy a 'd' lister...take your art cinema and shove it.
-
I'm sure he said it was the worst script he'd seen in years but he took it to keep busy & he was shocked it was a hit.
-
blackbauer I was thinking that too so maybe they'll have to take his ex-wife's family or something I dunno.. Maybe he'll go on a rampage again and kill a bunch of dudes and bring his daughter home but leave his ex and her husband there. Maybe they'll take his dog this time.
-
Sequels plot seems obvious to me, in the first film he killed some high fucking rollers. Are we to believe no one would give a shit. That "industry" makes millions in the black market. Top dudes getting picked off would get attention. So they not just take his daughter but his ex-wife, rich husband. Neeson tries to save them by himself, fails, so he gets his old team together and they go abroad and slaughter the bad guys. Done. Taken 3: Daughter knows best. Neeson is kidnapped and the daughter joins the old team to save him. Third one probably won't happen but I'm certain my plot for Taken 2 will be what we see on screen.
-
Yiou can't make this flick without Liam, it'll be well shit
-
That is all.
-
Turbo is available... just sayin'!
-
Where we find out he is an alien from the planet Zeist
-
neeson kicks ass. that i agree. wholeheartedly. but taken is not a well written movie, nor is it well excuted.
-
there was a guy on irish radio talking about a book he had written called master switch. its a book about the dangers of consolidation the examples are radio in the us or movie studios. it looks like we are going to be getting more films like taken. and not more arthouse films. So i wont be taken my art house films and shoving them anywhere. if movie studios keep consolidating we wont be getting arthouse movies just more stuff like taken. and more crap like real 3d. take your real 3d and shove it.
-
"WHAT WAS ONCE TAKEN, WAS TAKEN BACK. NOW IT HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAIN. AND ONE MAN WANTS IT RETURNED. OR ELSE HE WILL TAKE IT BACK. AGAIN." This shit practically writes itself.
-
Nah just kidding, I love him- and would be nice to see him in this sequel.
-
I keep hearing it over and over...I am losing my mind here...I'm not fucking joking...
-
Search your feelings! You know it to be true!
-
Liam Neeson has been kicking ass and taking names since Krull (Yes, he was one of the convicts in Krull). He was also in Excalibur, another British fantasy flick with a plethora of future stars. His best film is still Michael Collins. He is the ballsy leader of the IRA during its fight for independence and pretty much single-handedly invented car bombs (thank you so much for that one...). Its an awesome movie and way better than Taken on many levels.
-
Taken was a vastly underrated film in my opinion. Thoroughly loved it! Hope this is good..
-
Look closely. It's an even better name than you thought.
-
loneliness + alienation + fear + despair + self-worth ÷ mockery ÷ condemnation ÷ misunderstanding x guilt x shame x failure x judgment n=y where y=hope and n=folly, love=lies, life=death, self=dark side
-
"He made me fuck her!" "He had a gun in my mouth!" "Oh god!" "Help1"
-
Remember the "shady business dealings" of the new husband? The Russians will kidnapp her after a deal goes sour.
-
interesting idea. he would do a decent job of it ... but he'd make an absolutely brilliant Bond villain. I want to see Neeson and Daniel Craig kicking the crap out of each other in Neeson's underwater hideout
-
lest we forget
Top Talkbacks
- Has STAR WARS EPISODE VII Landed Its First Non-OT Cast Member? -- 326 total posts 28 posts
- Steven Seagal might be joining THE EXPENDABLES 3!! -- 181 total posts 28 posts
- Harry dives into STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS' spoilers to reveal the truth behind the blockbuster we're seeing! -- 1124 total posts 23 posts
- John Ary's Video Review Of The New CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) Blu-ray!! -- 184 total posts 12 posts
- Very Funny Red-Band Trailer Makes A Profanely Convincing Case For THE KINGS OF SUMMER! -- 26 total posts 8 posts
- Trailer For Alejandro Jodorowsky's THE DANCE OF REALITY Is Filled With Hauntingly Surreal Imagery! -- 35 total posts 6 posts
- NBC To Launch This July 13-Episode Scripted Series SIBERIA, About Strange 21st Century Happenings At The Site Of The 1908 Tunguska Meteor!! -- 36 total posts 6 posts
- First trailer for A CHRISTMAS TALE director Arnaud Desplechin's next film, JIMMY P. starring Benicio Del Toro!!! -- 12 total posts 4 posts
- Nordling Reviews STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS! Spoilers Abound! You Are Warned! -- 1310 total posts 4 posts
- ‘Darkness Will Devour Them All!!’ Sunday Brings Antepenultimate GAME OF THRONES For HBO!! -- 308 total posts 4 posts