Liam Neeson’s son Micheal will take on the role of Irish patriot and revolutionary Michael Collins, 20 years after his father’s iconic Golden Globe-nominated performance in the Neil Jordan 1996 classic.

The new film, which is set for a global release in 2016 on the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, will cover the period between 1883-1916. The movie, directed by Kevin McCann, is described as a prequel to the 1996 Michael Collins and The Wind That Shakes The Barley.

Colin Morgan will star as Seán Mac Diarmada and David O'Hara will play Dublin Brigade Commandant General James Connolly, The Belfast Telegraph reports.

It will be Micheal Neeson’s first big role on screen.

The young actor, who is also the son of the late actress Natasha Richardson, told the Evening Standard last month that his father told him to be a carpenter instead of an actor.

“Dad was like, please become a carpenter or something. On my Mum’s side I was encouraged to do whatever I wanted. I’ve done a couple of drama courses. At the beginning I’d be shaking. Dad always said, ‘just take three deep breaths’,  and it does work, although you don’t want anyone seeing you do it,”

"But then you get lost in what you’re doing and get that rush.”

Earlier this year, Micheal opened a fashion gallery in London.