NBC to make prequel TV show to Taken movie franchise WITHOUT Liam Neeson
ACTION movie Taken is being turned into a TV series by American broadcaster NBC, but it won't be starring the film's iconic lead actor Liam Neeson.
The new Taken TV series will not feature lead actor Liam Neeson
The US network may have enlisted the original film's writer Luc Besson in the project to adapt the film franchise into a prequel, but die-hard Taken fans will be sad to hear that the 63-year-old actor won't reprise his role.
The show will follow a young Bryan Mills - before he has a wife or children - as he learns his special skills which he goes on to, as per the film storyline, utilise against traffickers who kidnap his daughter.
It's a homage to one of the movie's most famous quotes, when protective father Bryan makes a speech to one of the suspected thugs: "What I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career; Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you."
French filmmaker Luc, 56, will serve as executive producer on the series along with Matthew Gross, Edouard de Vesinne and Thomas Anargyros.
The prequel series will follow Liam's character Bryan
It's not the first time that the screenwriter, who specialises in thrillers, has had one of his film's turned into a TV series.
His movies Taxi, La Femme Nikita and Transporter have all been adapted for the small screen.
The first blockbuster was released in 2008 and was a surprise hit, netting $226million at the global box office and propelling Liam into action hero superstardom.
Leading on from it's initial success, two sequels have followed – imaginatively dubbed Taken 2 and Taken 3 in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
The entire three-part franchise has netted a $928.7million fortune worldwide.
The TV show will follow Bryan learning his special skills