Liam Neeson Latest to Be Drafted into Peter Berg's Battleship« FirstShowing.net

It looks like all that action and ass-kicking inTakenmight have knocked a screw loose in the head ofLiam Neeson. After having some fun in the surprise action hit, Neeson seems to have taken a liking to senseless action with recent roles in blockbusters likeA-TeamandClash of the Titans. Now it looks like we can add another one to the list asDeadlinereports Neeson has joined the ranks of Peter Berg's nautical board game adaptationBattleship. With a strange cast that already includes Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgaard and chart-topping singer Rihanna, many are already anticipating this will sink at thesummer 2012box office.

As we discussed back in August, this film is a huge risk for Universal as they'redropping roughly over $200 millionon it. That's a hell of an undertaking for a studio whose only movie that has exceeded any box office expectations this year (so far) wasDespicable Me(thoughScott Pilgrim vs. The Worldshould've succeeded as well). Not only is there a risk of a tired audience sick of toy and board game adaptations making their way to theaters, but I don't think there are many people who believe thatBattleshipcan be turned into a decent summer blockbuster. Even if it does turn out well, it's ridiculous that it couldn't stand on its own without the brand recognition from the board game, but of course that's Hollywood (and specifically Universal) for you.

The project is now shooting in Hawaii and will see Nesson playingAdmiral Shane, the Naval officer whose daughter (played by Brooklyn Decker) is engaged to a young naval officer (Kitsch). Meanwhile, Skarsgaard plays Kitsch's older brother, while Rihanna plays Kitsch's crew mate and a weapons specialist (yeah,that'sbelievable). All of the characters have some role in a story that follows an international fleet of battleships coming together to fight a water-bound armada of an otherworldly origin. As far as Neeson's casting goes, I wish he would take on more roles like his turns inChloeorFive Minutes in Heavenrather than yet another ridiculous action film like this.Are you guys any more interested with Liam Neeson in this cast?

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