The Star Wars star was almost the new James Bond

Not Pierce Brosnan, but Liam Neeson was almost the new James Bond in the mid-1990s. The Star Wars actor has revealed it. However, his wife stopped him with the last ultimatum.

Liam Neeson has after the Takenmovies have taken a lucrative path in Hollywood. In recent years, the now 70-year-old actor has starred in B-movie after B-movie, often mindless action movies in which Neeson is on the run or hunting someone himself. Takenten times ten.

Liam Neeson as James Bond?

One of those films that Bruce Willis also has a lot on his resume: cheap productions where it is especially important that there is a familiar face on the poster. inspiring? Rarely, but for icons like Neeson it’s a simple but effective way to make money during a period when you as an actor are no longer called upon to play the young heartthrob.

However, Liam Neeson almost starred in an action franchise of an entirely different caliber. Long before he played Qui-Jon in Star Wars.prequels, he was asked for the film role of film roles, the Northern Irish actor revealed last week during an interview with Rolling Stone. The Godfather says that 007 producer Barbara Broccoli asked him several times in the 1990s if he would like to play James Bond. The great question.

Woman gave ultimatum

Unfortunately it never happened. Fortunately, Neeson isn’t afraid to explain why not: his wife stopped him.

“I know broccoli. They saw many actors. schindler’s list I had been out and Barbara had called me a couple of times to ask if I was interested, and I said, “Yes, I would be interested.” And then my lovely wife, God rest her soul, said to me while we were shooting the movie Nell, ‘Liam, I want to tell you something: if you’re going to play James Bond, we’re not getting married.’ ”

In bed

Neeson chose love. A good choice, because the two were happily married for more than fifteen years, until his wife, actress Natasha Richardson, died in a skiing accident. In the end it was another Irishman, Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in 1995 as James Bond in golden eye. The rest is history.

“Zee was serious! Come on, there are all these beautiful girls in different countries getting in and out of bed. I’m sure a big part of her decision making was based on that! Fortunately, Neeson can still laugh about it. Plus: With a lengthy resume and an estimated net worth of $150 million, the Star Wars actor is anything but a could have been. For example, all the great actors are constantly being polled for new roles, of which they can only take on a fraction.

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Surprisingly Concise Opinion on Star Wars

Speaking of Star Wars, Qui-Jon, of course, made an appearance at the end of the series. Obi Wan Kenobi, but that’s where the 70-year-old actor is worried about the megafranchise. Neeson was recently a guest on the American talk show See what happens live!where he was asked if he would be interested in returning.

His answer is surprising… honest: “No, I haven’t. There are so many Star Wars spin-offs. It’s watered down for me, and it took the mystery and magic out of me in a weird way.” Oh. However, even as a Star Wars fan, you can’t completely disagree with his vision of the franchise. Oh well, luckily we still have the mandalorian yearn. And if you really want to see more Liam Neeson in Star Wars, you can always check out the animated series. tales of the jedi look at last year. In it, the actor can also be heard as Qui-Jon. Still a bit of Star Wars!

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