Luc Besson moving forward with production on TAKEN 2, with or without Liam Neeson

 

Luc Besson has been ramping up production on Taken 2. Deadline reports that Besson is working on a script with Robert Mark Kamen and that he's currently in talks with Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3) to direct the sequel.

Sounds like great news to me, I loved the original film. Besson has been running into one major problem. Liam Neeson has all but stepped away from reprising the role that catapulted him back into the limelight. Neeson is not holding out for a bigger payday either. Besson's current plan to shoot the film this year is conflicting with Neeson's plans to take time off. A new film without Neeson seems pointless to me!

According to Deadline, Besson has even put together a list of actors play the part, including Mickey Rourke, Ralph Fiennes, Ray Winstone, Sean Bean and Jason Isaacs. Things took a turn for the better yesterday, with Neeson close to deciding to return, but nothing is definite. One option in the mix is to have Besson film in Istanbul later this year, which would allow Neeson to have the time he needs off. This option would make sense for 20th Century Fox as well. The studio made $146 million in the U.S., and around $227 million internationally. The first film did not cost much to make and I am sure the same is planned for the sequel.

What are your thoughts on this news?