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Neeson circling $20m for Taken 3

Actor in negotiations for whopping payday, despite having previously ruled out sequel

Taken again?... Neeson in talks for $20m payday for third film (Copyright: Fox)

Liam Neeson is in negotiations for a third film in the 'Taken' series, with his fee rumoured to be around $20 million (£13 million).

He would be reprising his role of vengeful former CIA man Bryan Mills, after hauling in seriously decent receipts for both the 2008 original and the 2012 sequel.

Both French productions, the first film made $227 million (£147 million) on its modest $25 million (£16 million) budget, while 'Taken 2' did even better, turning a $45 million (£29 million) budget into $374 million (£242 million).


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It's claimed that Neeson took home $15 million (£9.7 million) for the second film, but it was almost universally panned by critics.

Neeson himself mocked the idea of appearing in a third film, while promoting 'Taken 2', suggesting that more kidnapping for another film might not wash.

“I don’t think so; I think this is the end,” he said. “I mean how many times can she be taken? I mean, it’s bad parenthood, really, after that.”

[Neeson's idea for Taken 3]


Both Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, who wrote the first two films, are already working on a script for the third.

It's also thought thought that Olivier Megaton, who helmed the second film, may also return.

Production is due to start in February.