Liam Neeson Wants to Play Ra's al Ghul on Arrow

While he hasn't been approached about it yet, Star Wars Episode I and Batman Begins actor Liam [...]

While he hasn't been approached about it yet, Star Wars Episode I and Batman Begins actor Liam Neeson told MTV today that he would reprise the role of Ra's al Ghul on The CW's Arrow "in a heartbeat."

The Academy Award-nominee previously played the villain in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises. Producers on Arrow have repeatedly referred to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy as being their "North Star" when setting the tone for the show.

"I would, in a heartbeat, if it came my way, yeah," Neeson said when asked if he would play the role were it offered. "Very much so."

"They have to believe in their philosophy," Neeson added of playing villains. "Ra's al Ghul absolutely believed what he was doing was ultimately saving civilization, and it was quite a good argument he comes up with. Throughout the ages this fraternity, that brought the plague to wipe out a section of mankind because it needed to be regenerated again. Very dangerous, but you have to believe it."

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Ra's al Ghul was referenced all throughout the second season, but never appeared onscreen. A teaser for the series' third season, released at Comic Con International: San Diego last month, revealed that Ra's will play a major role this year, with follow-up interviews confirming that he's the show's Season Three "big bad." His daughter, Nyssa Raatko, appeared in the second season and is likely to recur in Season Three. Her on-again, off-again girlfriend Sara "Black Canary" Lance left the show at the end of Season Two to rejoin the League of Assassins and Nyssa.

Rumors have been remarkably sparse so far as to who might play Ra's, with only one or two names floating around, and nobody from credible sources. Arrow is currently filming its sixth episode, while it's likely Ra's will appear in the midseason finale, episode nine, which is set to be directed by Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters helmer Thor Freudenthal.

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