Liam Neeson recently told Rolling Stone that being on time to set is one of the most valuable skills an actor can have. The 73-year-old is currently headlining Paramount’s “The Naked Gun” reboot opposite Pamela Anderson. The movie opened to $17 million at the domestic box office, a solid start for a comedy in today’s theatrical marketplace.
“That’s very important,” Neeson said about showing up to set on time. “I hear disturbing stories about actors and actresses who are very gifted, but show up on the set two, three, four hours late. I would never work with those people. I think it’s so insulting. You have a crew of like 60, 70, 80 people waiting for you. The very least you can do is give them the respect by turning up on time.”
Neeson did not cite any actors by name, but he did not seem to be talking about any of his recent co-stars on “The Naked Gun.” The comedy flips the script on Neeson’s late career transformation as an action movie star by casting him as a bumbling police detective.
The Oscar nominee has rarely fronted a studio comedy in his career, but it could be a new lane for Neeson now that his action era is ending. He told Variety that he still gets offered action movies on occasion but he’s not interested in them as much.
“Im 73, for fuck’s sake,” Neeson said. “I don’t want to insult audiences if they’re watching whole fight scenes and it’s not me. I just wouldn’t do it. Up until recently, I liked doing my own fight stuff. But I don’t want to be doing that stuff with a Zimmer frame or walking stick. Sure, there might be another one out there, but nothing definite on the horizon.”
“The Naked Gun” is now playing in theaters from Paramount Pictures.