Liam Neeson reveals he was offered the chance to play James Bond in the 1990s

Liam Neeson almost parlayed his Oscar-nominated performance in Schindler’s List into portraying 007, though it would have come at the expense of his future wife, Natasha Richardson.

Several months before Schindler’s List hit theaters in December 1993, he met Richardson while they both starred in the Broadway revival of Anna Christie, which debuted in January 1993, with the couple tying the knot in July 1994.

The 70-year-old actor – who recently admitted he was ‘uncomfortable’ during an awkward interview on The View – was married to Richardson until her tragic death in 2009 following a skiing accident, though Neeson revealed to Rolling Stone that she would have never tied the knot if he had played James Bond.

Neeson revealed he had known James Bond producers Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli, his daughter Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson for some time, and they contacted him after Schinder’s List came out to gauge his interest in playing 007.

‘I know the Broccolis. They looked at a bunch of actors. Schindler’s List’ had come out and Barbara [Broccoli] had called me a couple of times to ask if I was interested, and I said, “Yes, I would be interested,”‘ Neeson began.

Liam and Natasha: Liam Neeson almost parlayed his Oscar-nominated performance in Schindler’s List into portraying 007, though it would have come at the expense of his future wife, Natasha Richardson

Never: The 70-year-old actor – who recently admitted he was ‘uncomfortable’ during an awkward interview on The View – was married to Richardson until her tragic death in 2009 following a skiing accident, though Neeson revealed to Rolling Stone that she would have never tied the knot if he had played James Bond

See also  Taylor Swift gives insight into her personal life as brand new album Midnights receives rave reviews

‘And then my lovely wife [Natasha Richardson], God rest her soul, said to me while we were shooting Nell down in the Carolinas, “Liam, I want to tell you something: If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married,”‘ he revealed.

While he never followed through and took the role, he did admit to, ‘going behind her back, making my fingers as though I’m holding a gun, and [humming the James Bond theme],’ he joked, adding, ‘I loved doing that s**t!’

‘She gave me a James Bond ultimatum. And she meant it!’ Neeson continued, adding why he thought she didn’t want him to take the role.

‘Come on, there’s all those gorgeous girls in various countries getting into bed and getting out of bed. I’m sure a lot of her decision-making was based on that!’ Neeson admitted.

The Broccoli family ultimately cast Pierce Brosnan as their new 007, with his first movie Goldeneye debuting in 1995, the same year Cubby handed his Eon Productions and the control of the James Bond franchise to Barbara and Michael, who still control the franchise to this day.

Brosnan made four James Bond movies – Goldeneye, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies with Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Pryce, 1999’s The World Is Not Enough starring Denise Richards and Robert Carlyle and 2002’s Die Another Day starring Halle Berry and Toby Stephens.

It wouldn’t take long for Neeson to find a massive franchise like James Bond, playing Jedi Knight Qui-Gonn Jinn in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

While his character was killed by the villainous Darth Maul (Ray Park) in the first installment of the prequel trilogy, he did return as a ‘force ghost’ with his voice often heard throughout the subsequent films.

See also  Japanese national Haruto Morishita faces uncertain future after freak beach accident at Dee Why

No Bond: ‘And then my lovely wife [Natasha Richardson], God rest her soul, said to me while we were shooting Nell down in the Carolinas, “Liam, I want to tell you something: If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married,”‘ he revealed

New Bond: The Broccoli family ultimately cast Pierce Brosnan as their new 007, with his first movie Goldeneye debuting in 1995, the same year Cubby handed his Eon Productions and the control of the James Bond franchise to Barbara and Michael, who still control the franchise to this day

Four Bond movies: Brosnan made four James Bond movies – Goldeneye, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies with Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Pryce, 1999’s The World Is Not Enough starring Denise Richards and Robert Carlyle and 2002’s Die Another Day starring Halle Berry and Toby Stephens

While his co-star Ewan McGregor recently went on to reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the self-titled Disney Plus series, Neeson has no interest in returning to the galaxy far, far away.

‘No, I’m not,’ Neeson said last week on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, when asked if he would return to the franchise.

‘There’s so many spinoffs of Star Wars. It’s diluting it to me, and it’s taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way,’ he added.

Neeson’s career got another jolt with 2009’s Taken, which lead to several sequels and revived his career as an action star.

His new film Marlowe – based on the iconic detective character created by Raymond Chandler – debuted in theaters last week, taking place in 1930s San Francisco.

He also has two more films slated for release in 2023, Retribution with Jack Champion and Matthew Modine, and In the Land of Saints and Sinners with Kerry Condon and Ciaran Hinds.

The actor also has In the Land of Saints and Sinners expected for release this year, starring alongside Kerry Condon and Ciaran Hinds.

Neeson also has Thug in post-production with Ron Perlman and he’s gearing up to star in a reboot of The Naked Gun. 

No return: ‘No, I’m not,’ Neeson said last week on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, when asked if he would return to the franchise

Coming soon: The actor also has In the Land of Saints and Sinners expected for release this year, starring alongside Kerry Condon and Ciaran Hinds