How far would you go to atone for your sins? Well In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Liam Neeson is not holding back, and he goes as far as it takes! Liam Neeson is back for another action-packed adventure, and this time, the Taken series star will bring his special skills to his home country of Ireland, leading the all-star cast of In the Land of Saints and Sinners.
Liam Neeson’s return to the big screen, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, has been creating some buzz, especially after its premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival. The upcoming enthralling adventure is directed by Robert Lorenz, and as rumour has it, it is planned to hit the theatres by the end of September 2023, however, nothing has been confirmed yet.
Packed with action and some classic Liam Neeson charm and great talent, the Irish drama In the Land of Saints and Sinners brings a gripping experience of redemption that will leave the audience on the edge of their seats. As we wait for the arrival of the film, let’s break down what has been announced so far about Liam Neeson’s next adventure, In the Land of Saints and Sinners.
The Plot of In the Land of Saints and Sinners
In the Land of Saints and Sinners is a thriller mystery film taking place in mesmerising Ireland. The film tells the story of a retired assassin, Finbar Murphy, who, after a lifelong series of misdeeds, decides to put his troubled past behind him and try to start over. Murphy, played by Liam Neeson, chooses a small Irish village away from the instability in politics that permeates the rest of the nation to have the peaceful life he is looking for.
However, as fate would have it, he doesn’t enjoy that peace much, and he is soon dragged into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with three terrorists. To get out of this game safely, he must decide between disclosing his secret identity and protecting his friends and neighbours from the outlaws that have invaded their tranquil coastal village.
The Making of In the Land of Saints and Sinners
The first news about the film came out in 2021, when it was announced that Liam Nesson will star in a new Irish film. Around the same time the news about Irish actor Ciarán Hinds joining the cast came out. In the following year in 2022, another Irish prominent star, Kerry Condon, joined the cast as well.
The main shooting for In the Land of Saints and Sinners was scheduled for March 2022 in Ireland. Most of the film was filmed in County Donegal, in addition to having some sequences filmed in Dublin. It is worth noting that this is the second collaboration between Liam Neeson and filmmaker Robert Lorenz who worked before on the action film The Marksman (2021).
The film is written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane. Loane has another Irish film coming up starring Pierce Brosnan, The Last Rifleman.
The Cast of In the Land of Saints and Sinners
In the Land of Saints and Sinners boasts a superb ensemble cast, including three renowned Irish actors who also happen to be all Academy Award nominees, in addition to some other talented Irish actors as well.
Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson is one of the most well-known and respected actors in Hollywood, and not for nothing, of course! From historical figures such as Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List (1993) to a supervillain like the iconic Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins (2005) and even a brave Jedi Master in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Liam Neeson’s talent knows no boundaries.
Liam’s natural acting talent led him from the age of 11 to appear in small plays until he made his breakthrough on the English big screen, attracting the immediate attention of film and television producers and directors’ thanks not only to his acting but also to his great physical presence.
Before becoming an action star, Neeson played all sorts of roles. His first major appearance was in Excalibur in 1981, and he spent all those wonderful years sharing billboards with old and future movie legends such as Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, Daniel Day-Lewis and Laurence Olivier in The Bounty (1984) or Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons in The Mission (1986).
Neeson showed how much he learned from all of these stars in Schindler’s List (1993), the film that made him a superstar, and with the film Michael Collins (1996), he confirmed himself as a dramatic actor full of resources. But even then, he wouldn’t give up having fun in an infamous horror film with the director of Speed, The Haunting (1999), or with one of the best war films like Bigelow’s thriller, K-19: The Widowmaker (2002).
After Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999), during the 2000s, it seemed like Neeson was in almost all blockbusters like Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Chronicles of Narnia (2005-2010), and Batman Begins (2005). He also left his mark on one of Martin Scorsese’s best films, Gangs of New York (2002), with a brief appearance.
Then came Taken (2008), and that’s when we discovered that Neeson was perhaps not the best father and best husband in the world, but definitely the man who can save us all! The aforementioned are only a few milestones in the career of Liam Neeson, and such a rich history definitely raises the bar of expectations high for his new film In the Land of Saints and Sinners!
Ciarán Hinds
Ciarán Hinds is one of those highly recognisable actors you’ve seen and heard everywhere, in every genre, in every decade and on every screen, big or small. Irishman Ciarán Hinds has established himself as one of the most talented and prolific supporting actors since his 1981 debut in the film Excalibur.
Although he has not been highly recognised by critics or awards, his career has been rewarded by the directors who have given him a steady stream of work, with over 125 film and television credits to his name. Adept at working within gangster and espionage archetypes, Hinds has been involved in some of the best thrillers since the 1990s, leaving a mark of his talent in many different genres.
Ciarán followed in the footsteps of his mother in the acting career, presenting us with some fantastic roles in films like The Sum of All Fears (2002), The Debt (2010), and Hitman: Agent 47 (2015).
Additionally, he received an Oscar nomination for actor in a supporting role for the 2021 film Belfast. Ciarán Hinds continues to captivate viewers with his amazing talent and unrelenting passion for his art, thanks to his significant understanding of characters.
Kerry Condon
The film In the Land of Saints and Sinners also brings us Kerry Condon, an Oscar nominee for her stellar performance in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). She is an Irish actress whose exceptional talent and adaptability have captivated audiences.
Kerry Condon has acted in well-known productions such as Angela’s Ashes (1999), Unleashed (2005), and Dreamland (2019). Her charismatic on-screen appearance and capacity to embody challenging characters easily have cemented her reputation as a gifted and in-demand actress.
Jack Gleeson
Jack Gleeson is an Irish actor who left an enduring impression on the entertainment industry with his riveting talent. He became widely recognised for his portrayal of the guy we all hated in 2011, aka the evil, arrogant, and selfish King Joffrey Baratheon in the mega-hit HBO series Game of Thrones (2011-2019).
His depiction of this clever and vicious villain character demonstrated his remarkable acting skills and won praise from the critics. Despite his youth, Jack Gleeson was able to capture the depth and malevolence of Joffrey, turning him into one of the most hatred villains in the history of TV.
Colm Meaney
Another member of the cat of In the Land of Saints and Sinners is the Irish actor Colm Meaney, who is well-known for his outstanding contributions to stage, television, and film. His four-decade-long career has established him as a brilliant and varied performer.
Although he began his career in the theatre, where he coincided in the late 1970s with other Irish actors, Colm Meaney made his first appearances in front of the camera in television series such as Les Roses de Dublin (1981).
Around that time he began his collaboration in the “Star Trek” universe, where over the years he filmed more than 200 episodes playing Miles O’Brien, in series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) and its spinoff Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999).
His depiction of Miles O’Brien earned him international acclaim. Colm Meaney’s portrayal of O’Brien demonstrated his talent for giving his characters depth and sincerity, winning over sci-fi fans all around the world.
In the 1990s he began a singular Irish trilogy, the result of the film adaptations of novels by his compatriot Roddy Doyle: The Commitments (1991), Irish Coffee (1993) and The Van (1996). These were small films with a local flavour, genre comedies full of charm, in which Meaney was in his element. The latter earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene is a talented singer and actress from Ireland. She is well-known for her fascinating on-screen style and has given strong performances in films including Rebellion (2016-2019), Dublin Murders (2019), and Bad Sisters (2022). She has won acclaim from critics and a devoted fan base thanks to her powerful charisma and natural ability to represent diverse characters.
When & Where Should You Expect to Watch In the Land Of Saints and Sinners?
On 6 September 2023, In the Land of Saints and Sinners had its world premiere at the 80th Venice Film Festival. Nevertheless, as of right now, none of the film’s distributors have made any announcements or release dates for both a local and global release of In the Land of Saints and Sinners.
It was also announced that Netflix has acquired the distributions rights for the film in the UK and Republic of Ireland in April 2022. However, in the US, Samuel Goldwyn Films will release In the Land of Saints and Sinners.
As you wait excitedly for the arrival of the new Irish gem In the Lands of Saints and Sinners, we can always enjoy other great Irish movies that have amused us for years, and still do!