Liam Neeson Sinks Into Berg's "Battleship": Movie News

Liam Neeson Sinks Into Berg's "Battleship"

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

After starring in "The A-Team," I guess Liam Neeson has decided he likes starring in big-budget summer action films.  Accoring to the Hollywood Reporter, Neeson is set to join the cast of Peter Berg's "Battleship."

Neeson will play Admiral Shane, a navy admiral and the future father-in-law of the lead officer character (Taylor Kitsch). Brooklyn Decker stars as Shane's daughter, Alexander Skarsgard as the brother of Kitsch's character and Rihanna as a weapons analyst.

Based on the Hasbro board game, the story centers around a battle on land, sea and the sky between earth's forces and attacking aliens with most of the action set on the USS John Paul Jones.

Brian Koppelman and David Levien are revising the previous script draft by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber.

The addition of Neeson always makes me more inclined to see a film, and usually makes it a bit better in the process. At least his performance is always good.  For example, consider him in "The Phantom Menace." He was the only decent actor in that film. So, this is definitely a good casting move and although the film's budget will be extremely high, they have some good talent aboard.

That said, it's precisely that budget that may be the film's downfall. The more money it makes, the higher the expectations, so if it doesn’t do very, very well when it opens, this ship will sink. Nevertheless, Kitcsh and Berg are both underrated in their fields, and I'm intrigued to see what Rihanna can bring to the table.

Neeson will next be seen in "The Next Three Days," directed by Paul Haggis, and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

"Battleship" is set for release on May 18, 2012.