Liam Neeson in Talks to Join ‘Men in Black’ Spinoff

Liam Neeson is reportedly in talks to join a Men in Black spinoff. The project is being produced by Sony and will be directed by F. Gary Gray who also directed projects like Straight Outta Compton and The Fate of the Furious. The script will be written by Matt Holloway and Art Marcum, with a projected release date of May 17, 2019.

Liam Neeson❤️ #liamneeson

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If Neeson officially signs on he will be joining Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, who have already committed to the project. Neeson’s role would be the head of the U.K. branch of the Men in Black organization. In the original film, there was a character who was head of the U.S. branch, which was played by Rip Torn. Emma Thompson took over that role in the subsequent spinoffs. The 1997 hit originally starred Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Men in Black agents, but neither of those actors are expected to be a part of the upcoming project.

Liam Neeson Joins @ChrisHemsworth in 'Men in Black' Spinoff Tessa Thompson is also starring in the revival. Liam Neeson is in negotiations to join Chris Hemsworth and @TessamaeThompson in Sony's Men in Black reboot. Fate of the Furious filmmaker F. Gary Gray is directing the movie, written by Iron Man screenwriters Matt Holloway and Art Marcum. The studio has the film dated for June 14, 2019. Hemsworth and Thompson are not playing the same alien-fighting and world-saving characters portrayed by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones  in the initial trilogy. The new movie is set in the same on-screen world, however. Plot details and what characters Hemsworth and Thompson are playing are being kept secret but on the Neeson front, it is known that he will play the head of the Men in Black organization in London, where the story begins. Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, who produced the original movies, are back as producers, while Steven Spielberg is returning as executive producer. CAA-repped Neeson starred in the action movie The Commuter earlier this year and will appear in Steve McQueen’s crime drama Widows, which Fox will open Nov. 16. Via ~ THR #MeninBlack #ChrisHemsworth #TessaThompson #LiamNeeson #SonyPictures

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Liam Neeson’s next project to be released will be Steve McQueen’s Widows. His most recent comedy role was in Seth McFarlane’s A Million Ways to Die in the West, and his most recent thriller was The Commuter. Last year, the actor announced that he would be quitting action films considering his age. At the Toronto Film Festival, he shared his thoughts on the matter, saying “I’m sixty-fu**ing-five. Audiences are eventually going to go: ‘Come on.'”

? News | . Liam Neeson is in talks to join 'Men In Black' spin-off . Previously announced by Sony that the spin-off would star Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, Liam Neeson is recently reported to join the team as the head of the U.K. branch of the agency. Rip Torn portrayed the head of the American division in the original pics. . Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald are producing, with Steven Spielberg executive producing. David Beaubaire is overseeing the film for Sony. . The movie itself is planned for May 17, 2019, release date. . [ via Variety ] . . Tags: #LiamNeeson #MenInBlack

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Whether that’s true or not, it does seem that Liam Neeson has been making moves to head in other directions with his acting career. He might be retiring one genre, but he is certainly not retiring from acting altogether.