Liam Neeson Boards “Battleship” Movie

Liam Neeson is the latest star to sign up for the box office treatment of Hasbro’s classic naval-themed board game, Battleship.

Neeson has been cast as respected naval officer Admiral Shane and will join Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgaard, and Rihanna in the Peter Berg-directed action flick, which is due in theaters on May 18, 2012.

Battleship centers around a battle on land, sea and the sky between Earth’s forces and attacking alien invaders known as The Regents. The movie will be told from both sides of the battle – human and alien.

Kitsch has been cast as a naval officer – who is dating the admiral’s daughter, played by Decker. He’ll lead the fight against the invading species, while Skarsgard will play his brother. Pop star Rihanna, who will be making her big-screen debut, takes on the role of a weapons expert.

In the past year, the Irish screen star has also landed lead roles in the psycho-sexual thriller Chloe, a remake of the ’80s fantasy film Clash of the Titans, and the independent After.Life. Neeson last appeared in the Summer 2010 film adaptation of The A Team.