The 72-year-old actor from Co Antrim, famous for his tough characters in movies like the Taken trilogy, Retribution, and In The Land of Saints and Sinners (both released in 2023), spoke about the possibility in an interview with People magazine.
“I’m 72 — it has to stop at some stage,” Neeson said. “You can’t fool audiences. I don’t want [my Taken stunt double] Mark [Vanselow] fighting my scenes for me.”
Neeson also suggested he might step away from action roles by the end of 2024, saying, “Maybe the end of next year. I think that’s it.”
Despite this, Neeson has ventured into new territory, including a comedy reboot of The Naked Gun, originally starring Leslie Nielsen. Neeson admitted he’s unsure about taking on the comedic role, telling the magazine, “Whether I can carry it or not, I honestly don’t know.”
In the reboot, set for release in 2025 and directed by Akiva Schaffer of The Lonely Island, Neeson will play the bumbling detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin, a character made famous by Leslie Nielsen.
The Ballymena-born actor, with over 100 films to his name, was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List. Neeson’s recent roles include the 2023 film Marlowe, where he played the hard-boiled detective Phillip Marlowe, a character created by American-British author Raymond Chandler.