Liam Neeson’s ‘Taken’ and ‘Taken 3’ Coming to Hulu: Action Fans Rejoice!

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2008 marked a significant shift in Liam Neeson’s acting career with the debut of the highly popular action-thriller “Taken”. Since then, he is often recognized as the man possessing a unique skillset, which comes into play when he saves his daughter from kidnappers in a foreign land. This movie led to a series of sequels, but none could match the original’s enchantment. Regardless, fans have continued to appreciate all installments. Starting February 1, they can revisit these adventures on Hulu as “Taken” and “Taken 3” will be added to their streaming library.

Before hitting Hulu, “Taken” – the movie that sparked a cultural craze and turned Liam Neeson’s character into a familiar face – is currently streaming on Max. The plot revolves around Brian Mills, portrayed by Neeson, who embarks on a journey across Europe to rescue his kidnapped daughter, Kim, played by Maggie Grace. This high-octane film is packed with enough suspense to make any parent shiver. While “Taken” was a hit, its two follow-ups, one of which will be available on Hulu, didn’t quite capture the original’s lightning in a bottle.

Starting in January, fans of the Taken franchise can stream Taken 3, the last movie in the series, on Hulu. Prior to this, it hadn’t been accessible through streaming platforms. In Taken 3, Liam Neeson reprises his role as an ex-covert operative seeking vengeance for the murder of his ex-wife Lenore, portrayed by Famke Janssen, who was also in X-Men: The Last Stand. A departure from the franchise’s usual formula, Taken 3 finds Neeson’s character pursued by government agencies after being framed for the murder he is trying to avenge.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the public response to Taken 3 was mixed, with a low critic rating of just 13% and a more favorable 43% score from general viewers. Despite this lukewarm reception, the film was financially successful, earning $326 million worldwide on a budget of $48 million, raking in $100 million more than the original Taken released in 2008.

Is ‘Taken 4’ Going to Happen?

Fans who were eagerly waiting for another installment in the Taken series can now relax as it appears that a fourth movie will not be produced. Back in 2016, following the release of the third film, Liam Neeson himself announced that there would be no Taken 4. He had mentioned that its production depended on the reception of Taken 3, and it seems both he and the studio took the feedback seriously. While the movie managed to make money, it fell short in meeting the expectations for a satisfactory sequel. Here’s the amusing quote from Neeson about the situation from 2016: [Link provided]

“I’m sorry, but no, that’s not the case. Your daughter can only be taken a certain number of times. If we find ourselves in a situation where we need to ask someone to do so again, it would be, ‘Could you please take my daughter?’

As a devoted fan of Liam Neeson, I must say we’ve been feasting on top-notch action films. Interestingly, he’s gone beyond surpassing the quality of the two Taken sequels with movies like Non-Stop and The Grey, among others. Yet, Neeson isn’t confined to one genre. Intriguingly, he’s set to star in the upcoming sequel of The Naked Gun, directed by Akiva Schaffer from The Lonely Island, a project that wrapped up filming last year. After his side-splitting performance in Ted 2, fans are eagerly waiting for his rendition of the iconic franchise. Frankly speaking, if there’s anyone who can deliver the deadpan comedy from the series as it was originally intended, it’s Neeson.

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2025-01-18 00:03