Rade Sherbedgia to take on Liam Neeson in TAKEN 2

Liam Neeson may have found his match in Taken 2. THR reports that Rade Sherbedgia has been cast as the villain in the action thriller sequel from 20th Century Fox and EuropaCorp. Filming is set to begin in Turkey and France later this month to meet a release date of Oct. 5, 2012. Taken 2 is being directed by Colombiana helmer Olivier Megaton and stars Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace.

Sherbedgia will play "Murad, the father of a kidnapper slain by Bryan Mills (Neeson) in the first film. Murad is described as a vengeful man who gives orders and doesn't take them. When Murad takes Mills and his wife hostage, their daughter is enlisted to help save them."

Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen co-wrote the script and is producing through his EuropaCorp banner. Besson and Kamen also co-wrote the first Taken, which grossed $224 million worldwide. Sherbedgia is known for roles in Batman Begins, Mission: Impossible II and a memorable turn as Boris "The Blade" Yurinov in Snatch.