Liam Neeson Revealed a Heartwarming Story After Being Cast in Schindler’s List That Put Him Above Kevin Costner and Harrison Ford

When it comes to acting chops, Liam Neeson is truly in a league of his own!

The film became a cultural icon thanks to the brilliant black-and-white cinematography of Janusz Kamiński and the screenplay by Steven Zaillian.

The film, which starred Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, has a ton of interesting behind-the-scenes material because making a 195-minute epic is not a small feat. Indeed, Neeson’s career was greatly impacted by the movie.

The role that really set Neeson apart is his portrayal of Oskar Schindler. Even though Kevin Costner and Harrison Ford both have impressive acting resumes, Neeson’s performance even puts him above them.

The Touching Tale That Sets Liam Neeson Apart from Hollywood Peers

Although Liam Neeson is commonly recognized for his intense performances in action-packed films, his role in the classic movie Schindler’s List truly displayed his range as an actor. But a lot of fans are unfamiliar with the heartwarming story that unfolded after the actor was chosen to star in the movie that pulled him apart in the movie business.

Mel Gibson indicated a desire to play the lead in Schindler’s List, according to Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz (via The Hollywood Reporter). However, it was not as easy as assigning Gibson to play Oskar Schindler.

Gibson was merely one of several candidates suggested for the position. Oh, and did we mention that Kevin Costner wanted to play Schindler too? Neeson, who was eventually chosen to play Schindler, stated to the publication:

“I heard Harrison Ford’s name. Costner’s name. The Australian actor Jack Thompson — I thought, ‘Oh, yeah, Jack looks very like Schindler’. 

The director, Steven Spielberg, declared in the interim:

“A lot of people were interested in playing Schindler, and a lot of them were movie stars, and to all of them I promised never to divulge any of their history with me, so I’m not saying those names are accurate. I’m saying there were a number of people, even more than the names you gave me.”

Well, Gibson’s chances were nil, according to Ovitz, because the director was looking for a “non-movie star for the part”. It was not until the director, his wife, and his mother-in-law saw Neeson in Broadway’s Anna Christie that Spielberg realized Neeson had to play the lead. The Academy Award-winning filmmaker, 77, added:

“After the show, we went to meet him backstage. Kate’s mom, who was uncensored, looked at Liam and almost burst into tears. She just adored him in that performance. Kate kept elbowing me in the side. ‘That’s him! That’s him!’”

“The mythological story is, Kate said to Steven when they were driving home, ‘That’s just what Schindler would have done, was give my mother a hug!’” 

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Twelve Oscar nominations were later received by Schindler’s list, and seven of them—including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay—were won. For his acclaimed performance, Neeson received a Best Actor nomination.

Schindler’s List: Liam Neeson’s Flick Received Positive Reviews

Liam Neeson in Schindler’s List
Despite its terrifying content, Schindler’s List stands as one of the greatest films of the 1990s. In the main role played by Liam Neeson, Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist and businessman who employed thousands of refugees in his factories and protected them as industrial workers, thereby saving their lives.

Next are all the nearly flawless reviews the movie received; it has a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 97% audience score. In addition to scooping 12 Oscar nominations, the film went on to win seven of them.

This not only earned Neeson his first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role, but it also brought director Steven Spielberg his first two Academy Awards. Quite frankly, it would be an understatement to say that Neeson and Spielberg’s perseverance paid off!

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Schindler’s List is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.