LIAM NEESON is returning to the action movie fold after signing on to star in upcoming thriller The Minuteman.
Robert Lorenz, who has served as a long-time producer and collaborator on several Clint Eastwood films over the past 17 years, is set to direct.
The Minutemen is set to begin filming in New Mexico and Ohio this September.
According to Variety, Lorenz co-wrote the script for the film with Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz with the plot centring on “a retired Vietnam veteran who finds himself responsible for the life of a young boy being hunted by the cartel.”
It marks a surprising return to more familiar action fare for Neeson, who previously suggested he had “retired” from the genre following the success of his Taken trilogy of films and movies like Run All Night.
Back in 2017, Sky News reported that Neeson told fans at the Toronto International Film Festival that he was done with making action movies.
“Guys, I’m sixty-fucking-five,” he said. “Audiences are eventually going to go: ‘Come on.’”
Despite the declaration, Neeson has gone on to make several more action movies, including The Commuter and Cold Pursuit, though it was assumed that both films were already in the works when he decided to step away from action movies.
This latest announcement suggests Neeson is far from done with the action genre and also comes several months on from a series of controversial comments the Irishman made during an interview promoting Cold Pursuit.
Speaking in an interview with The Independent back in February, Neeson revealed how he once sought revenge for the rape of a close friend by walking the streets armed with a weapon searching for a “black b*****d” to kill.
Last month, the actor issued a statement apologising for the comments.
"Over the last several weeks, I have reflected on and spoken to a variety of people who were hurt by my impulsive recounting of a brutal rape of a dear female friend nearly 40 years ago and my unacceptable thoughts and actions at that time in response to this crime,” he said in a statement.
“The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am. In trying to explain those feelings today, I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponised and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage.
"What I failed to realise is that this is not about justifying my anger all those years ago, it is also about the impact my words have today. I was wrong to do what I did. I recognise that, although the comments I made do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings nor me, they were hurtful and divisive. I profoundly apologise.”
Neeson is set to star in this summer's Men In Black reboot Men In Black: International.
