Liam Neeson trades guns for hockey in his most surprising movie in years

Liam Neeson has decided he fancies a bit of ice. He’s re-teaming with director Robert Lorenz for a film called Believe 13—and before you assume we’re getting another shoot-em-up, this one’s firmly in the sports drama camp. Honestly, it’s about as far from a Taken sequel as you can get: Neeson’s not chasing down anyone this time, he’s coaching.

A Hockey Film, Actually

This isn’t just any sports film. Believe 13 zeroes in on a genuine story, drawn from the life of real-life hockey coach Jack Blatherwick. Neeson plays Blatherwick, who’s described by the producers as something of a hockey genius but—classic move—he’s lost and isolated in retirement. The twist is Blatherwick’s relationship with a teen player, Jack ‘Jabby’ Jablonski, whose promising career is cut short by a catastrophic spinal injury on the ice. The film will follow the two as they navigate injury, despair, and the not-so-obvious road to hope, with a good chunk of the action set around a high school hockey team that tries to do the impossible.

The official summary is about as classic as they come: two blokes from different generations, both battered by life, form an unlikely friendship through their shared love of the game. Supposedly, it’s not just about what happens on the ice, but all the emotional off-rink stuff too. If you’re wondering whether the film will be all inspiration and heartstrings, I’d say yes—it practically brags about it in every blurb.

Believe 13 starts filming in Minnesota in early 2027.

The Real Story Behind It

This isn’t a slapdash sports tale pulled from thin air: Jack Blatherwick was no slouch in the hockey world, known for his cutting-edge training and, quite notably, as a key figure who helped Herb Brooks prep the Americans ahead of their 1980 Olympic upset over the Soviets—the so-called ‘Miracle on Ice’.

Jack ‘Jabby’ Jablonski’s side of the story is pretty harrowing. He was a star in the making before tragedy struck, leaving him paralysed at a young age. Still, his school team managed to clinch the Minnesota state championship, turning into a poster story for perseverance—and, inevitably, national attention.

Bringing it all to the screen: Lorenz directs (he and Neeson previously did The Marksman together) and Randy Brown handles the script. No word yet on who’s playing Jabby, or the rest of the cast for that matter, but the cameras are scheduled to roll in Minnesota from early 2027. Casting is still cooking, so expect more announcements when it all laces up properly.