Liam Neeson wary of doing another 'phone call' film

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Liam Neeson was wary about taking the part in the upcoming mystery film Walk Among the Tombstones because he did not want to recreate the plot of his 2008 hit movie Taken.

In Tombstones the actor plays a private investigator, Matthew Scudder, who is hired by a drug lord to unravel the kidnapping of his wife. Neeson told Empire magazine he hesitated before taking the role because of its similarities to Taken.

"When I first read Scott's [Frank, director-and-writer] script, I hesitated," he explained during his interview. "Because I thought, 'Here we go, here's another [expletive] telephone call, talking to the bad guys.' So there was this huge question mark before taking it on."

Asked whether he joined the rest of the cast in listening to strange music as they prepared to tap into their dark sides for the film, Neeson said he has a technique of his own.

"I knew what was required and I can easily access that kind of darkness, you know," he said.

Co-starring Boyd Holbrook and Dan Stevens A Walk Among the Tombstones is set to be released on September 19.