Rade Sherbedgia Kidnaps Liam Neeson In Olivier Megaton’s Taken 2

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Some plot details and casting have been revealed for the sequel to Olivier Megaton’s surprise hit Taken in the aptly named Taken 2 per the Hollywood Reporter.

Serbian actor Rade Sherbedgia has been cast as the villain in 20th Century Fox and EuropaCorp film. Sherbedgia will play Murad, the father of a kidnapper slain by Bryan Mills (Neeson) in the first film. Murad is described as a vengeful man who gives orders and doesn’t take them. When Murad takes Mills and his wife hostage, their daughter is enlisted to help save them.

Sherbedgia will next appear in Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey, which is set for December release. Sherbedgia has also appeared in Batman Begins, Mission: Impossible II and as Boris “The Blade” Yurinov in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch.

Taken 2 is set to begin filming this month.

What does this mean? Sherbedgia has always been great in smaller roles and is an inspired choice to play opposite of Liam Neeson. One thing that is a bit disturbing is the film’s plot, though. While I do trust Luc Besson and company, the first film worked because it was Liam Neeson on a rampage trying to find his daughter. Him being rescued just doesn’t “feel” right in so many words; if Murad kidnapped Neeson’s daughter, or killed someone close to him, and then went on a rampage through another foreign country trying to find the evil-doer that would be expected and encouraged because it worked wonderfully the first time.

What do you think? Is this a good casting decision and plot direction or would you have preferred another direction? Let us know below.