Happy birthday Liam Neeson
Happy birthday Liam NeesonReuters

"Taken," the movie series that epitomised Liam Neeson's acting career, is being turned into a TV show by Alex Cary. It is understood that the show, which will serve as a prequel to the movies, will feature Jennifer Beals and Clive Standen in leading roles.

Cary, who is also the executive producer, has written the show and he will also serve as the showrunner. The series is expected to enlighten the audience as to how Neeson's character Bryan Mills, played by Standen in the show, developed the particular set of skills that he used to find and save his daughter in "Taken."

Beals will play Special Deputy Director of National Intelligence Christina Hart, who takes Mills under her wings and mentors him during his initial years at the Central Intelligence Agency. According to Deadline, Hart is a powerful official in the government and commands an elite team of agents that combat America's national security emergencies.

Beals was last seen as protagonist Dr Carolyn Tyler in TNT's short-lived drama series "Proof," while Standen is best known for portraying Rollo, a ruthless and skilled warrior, in the History Channel series "Vikings."