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Thursday
12Mar2009

'Taken' Sequel Already Being Planned

DateThursday, March 12, 2009 at 2:41AM
I had two immediate reactions walking out of Taken, although I can't remember which one was more immediate. But the things on my mind were, "Wow, Maggie Grace really went overboard. Her 17-year-old acted like she was 12," and "I'd really like to see a sequel to that. Like right now." It looks like one of those things has been addressed, and meanwhile, the Maggie Grace character is trying on training bras.

Yep, a sequel is on the way, and they're also risky business, especially when you want a sequel. Because let's face it: That story is finished. All Liam Neeson can do now is save more people. There's no novelty in it. I suppose you can radically change the circumstances, but it's still going to be Liam Neeson assaulting a couple dozen anonymous thugs in the third act.

In a feature on the film's co-writer, Robert Mark Kamen, The Los Angeles Times throws the news in as an afterthought. The article is about how Luc Besson, the film's producer and Kamen's co-writer, has been so successful making a string of $20 million action movies that he's starting his own studio.

"Besson has already broken ground on a Paris-based studio that will feature 10 soundstages, post-production facilities, a cinema craft school, a five-screen multiplex and considerable office space," writes Patrick Goldstein.

The pair has been working together for over a decade, though this new direction started about seven years ago. In that mix is all the Transporter films, which don't cost much and don't make much...until you factor in the foreign receipts and DVD. So Taken follows that model, although it's already made more than all three Transporter movies combined.

If you're Besson and Kamen, the best news is that the Taken sequel won't break the bank and it's almost guaranteed to make money after about ten days. So when you're pushing a business model more than you are a storyline, that makes the goal a little easier to track.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , , , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment1 Comment |

Reader Comments (1)

I think Taken is the best movie in 2009, well at least so far. But a sequel ?.....I wonder

Thursday, March 12, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMr.K

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