Read more: Liam Neeson's 'Taken' a $145m domestic hit for Fox

Read more: Liam Neeson’s role in ‘Taken’ affects tourism in Europe

It's no secret that Liam Neeson has become the go-to-guy for moody European revenge dramas so this week the studios have all but announced that the Irish star has signed on to star in the sequel to his 2008 hit Taken.

Earlier reports said he may have pulled out of the project - was it from fear of typecasting perhaps?

But with discussions going down to the wire it was said that director Luc Besson was considering recasting the lead role of retired government agent Bryan Mills - due to the Irish star insisting that he be allowed to take the rest of the year off.

Besson ultimately negotiated with Neeson to delay filming on Taken 2 until early next year and so the romance was suddenly on again. Taken 2 will now commence principle shooting in Istanbul in early 2012.

Read more: Liam Neeson's 'Taken' a $145m domestic hit for Fox

Read more: Liam Neeson’s role in ‘Taken’ affects tourism in Europe