Liam Neeson’s Condition for Starring in A Million Ways to Die in the West

Liam Neeson Sets One Rule for His Role in A Million Ways to Die in the West

Liam Neeson may be synonymous with high-octane action and stoic heroics, but he also has a humorous side that emerged in the 2014 comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West. In this film, Neeson took on the role of Clinch Leatherwood, a threatening gunslinger intent on confronting Seth MacFarlane, who starred, wrote, and directed the movie. Given MacFarlane’s comedic background, particularly from Family Guy, it’s surprising that someone like Neeson would join the project, but one clever jab made all the difference.

During a 2014 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Neeson shared how a Family Guy cutaway gag poked fun at his Irish accent in light of his casting as an American cowboy. The gag suggested that an Irish actor would struggle to convincingly portray such a role. When MacFarlane approached him about the film, Neeson humorously stated, “I’ll do it on condition that I can use my own Irish accent.” MacFarlane agreed, astonished that Neeson would want to be a part of the quirky film.

MacFarlane later emphasized how critical Neeson’s role was to the film’s success. In an interview with Movie Viral, he compared Neeson’s performance to that of Ricardo Montalban in the 1985 comedy classic The Naked Gun, noting that both characters lent a sense of authenticity to their otherwise absurd worlds. “Without Liam’s serious portrayal, the film wouldn’t have resonated the way it did,” MacFarlane said. He also underscored the actor’s essential contribution to the film’s overall narrative.

It’s clear that Neeson’s participation in A Million Ways to Die in the West left a significant mark on MacFarlane, so much so that the two are now collaborating on a remake of The Naked Gun set for release in 2025. Neeson is excited about the project, even joking in a 2021 interview, “It’ll either wrap up my career or take it in a new direction. I honestly don’t know.” With Neeson’s trademark mix of seriousness and humor, this upcoming film promises to deliver an intriguing blend of genres.