Liam Neeson is intrigued by the idea of playing Darkman again
By Eric Bartsch
Celebrated Batman Begins actor Liam Neeson shows interest in revisiting Darkman, one of his first superhero roles, if only to read the script.
Liam Neeson and Sam Raimi are no strangers to big superhero properties, Neeson having done Batman Begins under Christopher Nolan and Raimi directing three straight Spider-Man movies that changed the game by bringing comic book movies to prominence.
But before either of them was a big-time player in the genre, they had to settle for building an original concept from nearly nothing.
Dark Shadows
The year was 1990 and Raimi, taking inspiration from pulp avenger The Shadow, created the character of Peyton Westlake (Neeson). An expert scientist in his field of synthetic tissue, Westlake is attacked in the middle of a breakthrough one night and horribly burned by crimelord Durant (Larry Drake) and his men.
Left for dead, he escapes the hospital where experiments were performed to save his life. They render him psychologically unstable as well and bandages become his mask in his Crow-like mission of retribution.
Neeson only played the character once but Darkman has been on his mind over the years. Fairly recently, the topic came up in an interview with Comicbook.com when the actor was asked about the potential of a legacy sequel.
Dark Legacy
One isn’t on the table as of yet; however, Neeson was rather intrigued by the idea. “That’s a good question,” he said. “I would be very interested in reading the script. Very.”
Should the premise of a legacy sequel apply, there would be quite a time jump and they would probably ignore the real sequels few speak of. Darkman received two straight-to-video follow-ups in the mid-90s, The Return of Durant and Die, Darkman, Die, where The Mummy star Arnold Vosloo subbed for Neeson.
Material with a third actor was shot amidst it all for a TV series pitched for syndication, but it never got off the ground.
Everywhere, nowhere
The idea of a retconning “Darkman 2” that starts fresh is exciting for fans of the original film. The problem is the possibility is remote mostly due to the advanced ages and schedules of the busy Liam Neeson and Sam Raimi.
Raimi returns to the world of wonder and superheroes, through Marvel no less, with Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness when the film comes out May 4, while Neeson is back this year with Memory and Blacklight, more of his revenge thrillers drawing from the Taken formula that became his calling card.
Next. The Flash: Michael Keaton stuns as Batman in jaw-dropping first look image?. dark
How does a legacy Darkman sequel, starring Liam Neeson and everything, being potentially added to the canon of superhero movies register with you? Comment and expound below or on social media.