In 2009, Taken was a surprise hit, bringing in almost $227 million worldwide on a budget of a mere $25 million. In 2012, the vastly inferior Taken 2 brought in $376 million worldwide on a $45 million budget. Following the release of the second film, star Liam Neeson was asked about the prospects of a third in the franchise and he said, “I can’t see a possible scenario where audiences wouldn’t go, ‘Oh, come on…! She’s taken again?'” It seems that scenario only needed another $5 million added to it.
Word was Neeson was paid in the area of $15 million for Taken 2 and now Deadline.com reports he’s close to closing a deal that would bring him in the vicinity of $20 million for Taken 3 making for one more go ’round as retired CIA agent Bryan Mills and I can pretty much guarantee you the sons of 2‘s villain, Murad Krasniqi (Rade Serbedzija), will be tracking Mills and his family back to the States.
I can only assume Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen will return and while there is no confirmation of a director, I’m sure Taken 2‘s Olivier Megaton is available. What else is he gonna do?
