Liam Neeson Was Almost Cast as James Bond, But Family Came First

“I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

Liam Neeson’s famous line from Taken is still epic (and meme-able) all these years later. The 2008 film made Neeson a bonafide action star, but James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli noticed his potential decades beforehand. In fact, the James Bond producer contacted Neeson herself several times in the 1990s to ask if he was up for the iconic role of 007.

That’s right—we were this close to getting Neeson as 007 instead of Pierce Brosnan. In the ‘90s, Neeson was riding high on his Oscar nomination for best actor for Schindler’s List, and his name was on every headline. At the same time, Timothy Dalton had retired his 007 mantle, and the title was up for the taking.

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According to Neeson’s interview with Rolling Stone, Broccoli called him about the opening, but it wasn’t meant to be. It wasn’t scheduling conflicts or behind-the-scenes drama that stopped Neeson from taking Bond—it was Natasha Richardson, may she rest in peace.

“Schindler’s List had come out and Barbara [Broccoli] had called me a couple of times to ask if I was interested, and I said, ‘Yes, I would be interested,’” shared Neeson. “And then my lovely wife [Natasha Richardson], God rest her soul, said to me while we were shooting Nell down in the Carolinas, ‘Liam, I want to tell you something: If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married.'”

And that was that. Richardson gave him an ultimatum, and Neeson didn’t hesitate—his wife came first. The Bond role went to Pierce Brosnan. Meanwhile, Richardson and Neeson married a year later in 1994, and went on to have two sons together before Richardson’s tragic death in 2009 from a skiing accident.

Despite the grief, Neeson remembers Richardson’s James Bond ultimatum fondly. While he had no hard feelings about losing the iconic role, he still teased Richardson by humming the Bond theme and making finger guns whenever she was around.

“Come on, there’s all those gorgeous girls in various countries getting into bed and getting out of bed. I’m sure a lot of her decision-making was based on that!” joked Neeson.

The actor might have passed on James Bond, but he did eventually live out his action star dreams with Taken 1, 2, and 3, as well as his latest project, Marlowe.