Liam Neeson will reprise his role as retired CIA agent Bryan Mills in a third instalment of the Taken movies - set for January 9 - and the Irish actor has confirmed that it will be the final movie in the series. 

Liam NeesonLiam Neeson in 'A Walk Among the Tombstones'

This time, Mills is the hunted prey after he's framed for the murder of someone close to him.

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

Neeson scored a surprise hit with Taken in 2008. What on the face of it appeared a formulaic thriller about a man travelling through Europe to find his kidnapped daughter became a blockbuster that spawned a sequel in 2012. The two movies took almost $600 million worldwide.

More: is Forest Whitaker set to direct 'The Shack' adaptation?

More: read our review of 'A Walk Among the Tombstones'

Nevertheless, Neeson is confident that the coming movie will be his final outing as Mills. "It's a rollicking good story," he said, "But I think this is the end." As for whether he feels the need to cool the action-thriller roles, the Dubliner explained, "If I feel audiences saying, 'Come on, he's 62, enough is enough,' I'm very sensitive to that and if I pick up that vibe it will all stop. And I'll start playing dads or grandfathers.But I keep myself pretty fit and my knees are still great. And it's fun."

The third movie welcomes Forest Whitaker, who plays the pursuing law enforcement agent tasked with tracking Mills down. 

"People are attracted to quiet heroes," Whitaker told USA Today, "Liam's presence has that. He gives people a sense of comfort and security. And he's an excellent actor."

Neeson is currently starring in A Walk Among The Tombstones, out in theaters now.

More: 'A Walk Among the Tombstones' is classic Neeson fare