Liam Neeson's "The Mongoose" Gets Its First Major Review

Liam Neeson's new action film, The Mongoose, has its first major review, published by Variety on 2 November 2026.

Neeson plays Ryan "Fang" Flanagan, a war hero who is on the run from the police. The story reaches back to 2005, when Flanagan, a Special Forces commander, was captured in Afghanistan. The film is built around that past and the chase that follows in the present.

The film marks a first step behind the camera for Mark Vanselow, a stunt coordinator who has spent years arranging the falls, fights and car chases that action films depend on. The Mongoose is his directorial debut. The script is by Thompson Evans.

The supporting cast includes Marisa Tomei, Ving Rhames and Michael Chiklis. RogerEbert.com reports that Tomei plays the ex-wife of Neeson's character. Rhames has named the film among his upcoming projects in an interview with Variety.

Filming took place entirely in Victoria, the Australian state whose capital is Melbourne. Variety Australia reported the start of shooting in April 2025, part of a run of large American productions choosing the state as a base. Ben Hall was also announced as part of the cast that year, according to Variety Australia.

Stories like this one often follow a familiar path. A film shoots in one country, a first-time director takes charge, and a veteran star carries the lead. Each step is a choice made by producers, financiers and the people hired to make the picture. For a stunt coordinator moving into the director's chair, the change is a notable one. It is also a reminder that many of the directors who reach the screen first worked on the sets of other people's films.

Distribution plans, box-office figures and the film's place in the release calendar are still to come.