First Look at Liam Neeson in 'Taken 3'

In theaters right now is A Walk Among the Tombstones, a mystery thriller starring Liam Neeson that the studio hoped would attract the crowd who loved him in Taken. That's pretty much been the approach for every Neeson film since he became Hollywood's top action star; marketing them to resemble his butt-kicking role as ex-CIA agent Bryan Mills with his particular "set of skills". But next year the real thing returns when Taken 3 hits theaters, and now the first photos have arrived courtesy of USA Today.

Judging by these images, Taken 3 will look a lot like Taken and Taken 2, meaning lots of Neeson looking very angry, Maggie Grace looking distraught, and...oh, there's Forest Whitaker. That's something different, at least. There's also a slightly different twist on the story as Mills becomes the prey after after being framed for the murder of someone he's close to.

Neeson: "I have to go on the run. I'll put it that way, from the not-so-lawful types and the lawful authorities. Bryan Mills served his country faithfully, but now even they are after him. They must not like me."

The last film ended with Mills killing the chief bad guy (of course it did), but not before he promised his sons would seek revenge. Could this have something to do with it? The awesomely-named Olivier Megaton is back in the director's chair for Taken 3, which opens January 9th 2015. Expect the first trailer to drop very soon.