Contrary to earlier reports saying Mickey Rourke, Ralph Fiennes, Ray Winstone, Sean Bean and Jason Isaacs were in the running to replace Liam Neeson in Taken 2, Deadline has updated their story and confirms our favorite bodyguard/assassin/government operative/badass is back.
Neeson and Luc Beeson have come to an agreement and will both return for Taken 2. Beeson and Robert Mark Kamen (The Transporter series, The Fifth Element) have written the script, but it is not yet known if Beeson will direct. The earlier story stated Olivier Megaton, who directed The Transporter 3 and the upcoming Colombiana with Zoe Saldana will helm but it is unclear who will take the reigns now.
The earlier issue was with scheduling, as Neeson has been on an all-out shooting spree (the film, not Taken kind). The man just wrapped Joe Carnahan‘s The Grey and Peter Berg‘s Battleship. He is set for Battle: Los Angeles director Jonathan Liebesman‘s Wrath of the Titans this summer, and then he wants a break. The only problem is Beeson wanted to start shooting directly after that.
They’ve come to a deal and will now shoot Taken 2 at the end of this year or the beginning of 2012. Don’t expect to see it in theaters until 2013, I’d say around that January/February sweet spot that saw a $146 million domestic take for the modestly budgeted original.
What do you think about Neeson reprising his Taken role? Do we even need a sequel?