Liam Neeson is not happy with all of the Star Wars spinoffs Disney has been making in recent years.
When joining Paul Rudd during an episode of Watch What Happens Live with host Andy Cohen on Thursday evening, the actor said enough is enough.
‘There’s so many spinoffs of Star Wars,’ began the 70-year-old Irish star, who was also on The View this week.
‘It’s diluting it to me, and it’s taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way,’ added the actor who is best known for his Taken franchise.
The subject came up when Neeson was asked if he would reprise his role of Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace which debuted in 1999.
Not good: Liam Neeson is not happy with all of the Star Wars spinoffs Disney has been making, he said on Watch What Happens Live with host Andy Cohen on Thursday evening
His role: The subject came up when Neeson was asked if he would reprise his role of Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn; he said no. Seen with Ewan McGregor in 1999’s Phantom Menace
He has also popped up in other Star Wars projects.
His voice was used in the TV series The Clone Wars, which aired from 2011 until 2014, and in 2019’s The Rise Of Skywalker.
More recently, he had two lines in one of the most recent spinoffs made by Disney, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
That spinoff stars his Phantom Menace co-star and longtime friend Ewan McGregor in the title role.
When asked if he would want to act in another Star Wars project, Liam said flatly: ‘No, I’m not.’
Neeson told ComicBook.com last year that he might want to revive his role, but only if it was for a movie and not a TV show.
‘Oh, I think so, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think so… if it was a film,’ Neeson said at the time.
‘Yeah, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to TV, I must admit,’ said Liam.
All good: Here Liam is seen chatting it up with Andy Cohen on WWHL
The movie is now a classic: Neeson with McGregor and Jake Lloyd in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Ouch! Liam’s buddy Ewan is starring in one of the Star Wars spinoffs, Obi-Wan Kenobi
‘I just like the big screen, you know? Qui-Gon, I can’t believe it’s 24 years since we made The Phantom Menace, I just cannot believe where the time has gone.’
He added, ‘It was a terrific experience, shooting that film in London.’
The Star Wars spinoffs include the movies Rogue One and Solo.
The TV shows are The Mandalorian, The Book Of Boba Fett, Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Next are Ashoka and The Acolyte.
This comes after news that Neeson is to star in the prison escape thriller The Riker’s Ghost.
The actor will reunite with director Neil Jordan after they collaborated on the 2022 neo-noir crime thriller Marlowe.
One of the many spinoffs from Disney+: Diego Luna as Cassian Andor from Andor
He is back for more: Season three of the hit series The Mandalorian will come out on March 1
Liam will portray a convict set for release who is forced to break a terrorist out of prison.
The movie has been written by Sean O’Keefe and Brian Rudnick and is scheduled to begin filming in September.
Alan Moloney and Steve Richards will produce for Parallel Film and Endurance Media respectively. Jake Katofsky, Susan Mullen and Rupert Wyatt are also involved in the film as producers.
Jordan said: ‘This is a unique take on the prison escape. A bare-knuckle ride from incarceration to freedom, by someone who just wants to finish his term.
‘The reluctant escapee will be played by Liam, and I can’t wait to explore this character with him.’
On the town: Neeson is seen on the sidewalk in New York City on Wednesday
Moloney – who also worked with Neeson and Jordan on Marlowe– added: ‘I am thrilled to be joining forces again with Neil and Liam.
‘We have put together an elite team to support Neil’s scripted and directorial vision. This one will have you on the edge of your seat.’
Liam is an established action star and will continue to make films in the genre until he stops being asked.
In a 2021 interview, the actor said: ‘I just turned 69 years of age, and the conversations I have with my agent now are, “Liam, have you read this script? It’s an action script,” and I say, “Chris, let me ask you this, they do know what age I am, right?” “Yes, they do.” “Okay, that’s all I want to know, thank you.”‘