Liam Neeson turns 64 next month. But he shows no sign of settling into a comfortable, twinkly-eyed Exotic Marigold Hotel sort of career. He’ll next be lending his very particular set of skills to a Hollywood remake of Norwegian thriller In Order Of Disappearance.
Deadline reports that Hans Petter Moland, the director behind the 2014 original, will be remaking an English-language version of his own film, with Neeson playing the role first played by Stellan Skarsgard: a mild-mannered snowplow driver whose son is murdered by a criminal gang.
The snowplower thus seeks bloody revenge, painting the snow red with victims to seek justice. It’s exactly the sort of material Neeson has been attracted to in his late career bloom, ever since making threatening phone calls in Taken repositioned him as an action star: tough, violent thrillers with plenty of opportunity for him to look steely-eyed and a bit grumpy.
The remake will retain the Fargo-esque snowy setting by transposing the location to Colorado, or a similarly wintry US locale. Neeson will still be Mr Plow.
There’s no word on when filming will begin, but to get you in the mood, the original In Order Of Disappearance already exists, and is very good. It’s currently available to watch on Netflix UK. (Here’s 50 other excellent films on Netflix UK, in case you were wondering.)