The original Taken film was a fan-favourite – its sequels, somewhat less so. But there’s now serious progress in bringing the concept to the television screen…
There’s behind-the-scenes news about the television series being spun out of the Taken cinematic franchise. Emmy-Award winner Alex Graves, whose work has included the likes of Homeland, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, The Newsroom and the pilot episodes for Fringe, Terra Nova and Proof has been asked to both executive-produce and direct the pilot episode of the NBC project. Unlike some shows where a pilot is produced and then a series discussed on the result’s merit, there is enough confidence to have already decided that – provisionally – the project will go to a full series. It will be set in the contemporary world but actually act as a prequel… with the audience seeing how a younger Bryan Mills (portrayed in the film franchise by Liam Neeson) originally developed those ‘…particular set of skills‘.
Industry site Deadline has noted that Alex Cary (who also worked on Homeland), will script the pilot and will also be acting as show-runner for the series. Luc Besson, co-creator and producer of the Taken movies will also be executive producing the project.
Despite a parody that was created for Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show in the US last year, it seems that a Taken 4 remains either firmly on the back-burner or unlikely to go forward. The cinematic arm of the Taken concept has had mixed-reactions. The first was a favourite of many action-fans, the second seen as much of a miss and the third more of a course-correction. The television series, with a smaller budget but a lengthier span might help the franchise find a new audience and new blood.
