Liam Neeson reportedly earned a fat paycheck as he reprised his role on the third installment of Taken.

A report from Deadline can reveal that the 62-year old Oscar nominee closed the deal to star on Taken 3 after being offered close to US$20 million, thanks to the colossal success of the first two installments.

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Neeson was cast in 2008 in the action-drama as the retired-but-not-yet-tired CIA agent Bryan Mills for a rather disappointing US$1 million. The film, however, grossed a whopping US$226 million against a budget of US$25 million.

The actor reprised his role on Taken 2, although it was not until he secured a US$10 million paycheck that he agreed to star on the film, a dent to the US$376,141,306 worldwide gross against the US$45 million production budget.

Hollywood Reporter notes that the success of Taken 2 gives Neeson the right to command for such a fee. 

Neeson ranked No.7 on Forbes' Highest Paid Actors list and his fee is just relatively smaller compared to Robert Downey, Jr.'s US$50 million Avengers TF. Downey co-stars, meanwhile, reportedly earned less Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, and Mark Ruffalo were reportedly paid only US$2-3 million and that included the bonuse.

The third installment also welcomes the comeback of Taken 2 director Olivier Megaton, who the one who help helm the film to earn US$50 million more than the sequel.

"When the sequel does better than the original at the box office, and doesn't cost that much more, of course they will try for the trifecta," Deadline notes.

TagsLiam Neeson, taken 3