By Brian Gallagher For Dailymail.com 00:29 February 22 2023, updated 00:57 February 22 2023
Liam Neeson almost turned his Oscar-nominated performance in Schindler’s List into portraying 007, although it would have been at the expense of his future wife Natasha Richardson.
A few months before Schindler’s List hit theaters in December 1993, he met Richardson when they both starred in the Broadway revival of Anna Christie, which debuted in January 1993, with the pair tying the knot in July 1994.
The 70-year-old actor, who recently admitted to being “uncomfortable” in an awkward interview with The View, was married to Richardson until her tragic death in 2009 following a skiing accident, though Neeson revealed to Rolling Stone that she was never would have tied the knot if he played James Bond.
Neeson revealed that 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 express his interest in to estimate the role of 007.
“I know the broccoli. They looked at a number of actors. “Schindler’s List” had come out and Barbara [Broccoli] had called me a couple of times to see if I was interested and I said, “Yes, I would be interested,” Neeson began.
Liam and Natasha: Liam Neeson almost poured his Oscar-nominated performance in Schindler’s List into the role of 007, although it would have been 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 after a skiing accident, though Neeson revealed to Rolling Stone that she would never have tied the knot if he had played James Bond
“And then my beautiful wife [Natasha Richardson]’God bless her soul,’ he said to me when we shot Nell in the Carolinas, “Liam, I want to tell you something, if you play James Bond, we’re not going to get married,” he revealed.
Though he never lasted through and took on the role, he admitted to “walking behind her back, making my fingers like I’m holding a gun, and [humming the James Bond theme]’ he joked, adding, ‘I loved doing that shit!’
“She gave me a James Bond ultimatum. And she meant it!’ Neeson went on to add why he thought she didn’t want him to take the role.
“Come on there are all these gorgeous girls in different countries going to bed and waking up. I’m sure many of their decisions were based on it!’ Neeson admitted.
The Broccoli family eventually cast Pierce Brosnan as their new 007, with his first film Goldeneye debuting in 1995, the same year Cubby gave his Eon productions and control of the James Bond franchise to Barbara and Michael, who control the franchise to this day.
Brosnan has directed four James Bond films – Goldeneye, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies with Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Pryce, 1999’s The World Is Not Enough with Denise Richards and Robert Carlyle, and 2002’s Die Another Day with Halle Berry and Toby Stephens.
It wouldn’t be long before Neeson found a huge franchise like James Bond, who played Jedi Knight Qui-Gonn Jinn in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
While his character was killed by the villain Darth Maul (Ray Park) in the first part of the prequel trilogy, he returned as a “force spirit” whose voice was often heard in subsequent films.
No Bond: “And then my beautiful wife [Natasha Richardson]God rest her soul, said to me while we were filming Nell down in the Carolinas, ‘Liam, I want to tell you something: if you play James Bond, we’re not getting married,” he revealed to Four Bond Films: Brosnan made four James Bond Films – Goldeneye, 1997 Tomorrow Never Dies with Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Pryce, 1999 The World Is Not Enough with Denise Richards and Robert Carlyle and 2002 Die Another Day with Halle Berry and Toby Stephens
While his co-star Ewan McGregor recently reprized his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the self-titled Disney Plus series, Neeson has no interest in returning to a galaxy far, far away.
“No, I’m not,” Neeson said on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live last week when asked about returning to the franchise.
“There are so many Star Wars spin-offs. It waters it down for me and in a weird way takes away the mystery and magic,” he added.
Neeson’s career got another boost in 2009’s Taken, which led to several sequels and reignited his action star career.
His new film Marlowe – based on Raymond Chandler’s legendary detective character – hit theaters last week and is set in 1930s San Francisco.
He also has two more films due out in 2023, Retribution, starring Jack Champion and Matthew Modine, and In the Land of Saints and Sinners, starring Kerry Condon and Ciaran Hinds.
The actor also has In the Land of Saints and Sinners, due out this year, with Kerry Condon and Ciaran Hinds.
Neeson also has Thug in post-production with Ron Perlman and is gearing up to star in a reboot of The Naked Gun.
No return: “No, I’m not,” Neeson said on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live last week when asked if he would be returning to the franchise for the Year Starring Kerry Condon and Ciaran Hinds