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Liam Neeson, Fidel Castro Comparisons Explode Internet After Former Cuban Leader’s Death

By Ernie Howell
Published on: 16:53 PST, Nov 27, 2016

Liam Neeson awoke this weekend to find out he had exploded the Internet over the unlikeliest of reasons: the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

The reason Liam Neeson and Fidel Castro have the Internet buzzing — as Mashable first reported on Saturday — is the striking facial features the two men share. While the passing of Fidel Castro was an odd time for doppelganger discussions, the memes and side-by-side comparisons with Liam Neeson poured in over the weekend.

The resemblance to Fidel Castro is more striking in some of the previous roles Liam Neeson has played. Images of characters like Ra’s Al Ghul from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight series as well as Ottway from The Grey are among the most recognizable images fans have used. The presence of a beard and mustache give life to Liam Neeson comparisons with Fidel Castro.

Even the younger version of Matt Scudder in A Walk Among The Tombstones looks strikingly like Fidel Castro thanks to his unkempt facial hair during a brief appearance in the movie. For his part, Esquire noted that Liam Neeson has remained silent on the Internet’s obsession with the comparisons to Fidel Castro thus far.

Talk of a biographical film about the life of Fidel Castro even filled fans’ messages. Clearly, Liam Neeson would be an odds-on favorite for the role, especially if the film covers the time period Fidel Castro first assumed power in Cuba.

Fidel Castro died on Friday at the age of 90, CNN reported. Raul Castro — who took over for his brother Fidel as president nearly eight years ago — announced the passing and state-supported nine days of mourning on Cuban TV. Many Cubans sought refuge from the oppressive Fidel Castro regime in the United States, which may explain why the death of the former leader has not been mourned by all Cubans.

While they may share similar facial features, Liam Neeson and Fidel Castro have very different pasts when it comes to political contributions. Liam Neeson — who is currently a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) — recently took time out of his filming schedule to talk with Syrian refugees, CBS News reported. The veteran actor joined an envoy to Jordan earlier this month to provide a voice for children victimized by the violence in Syria, Liam Neeson explained.

“I thought they would be more oppressed because of their culture, and of course because of the ordeals they have been going through, coming from Syria, the horrors there. These girls I met, yesterday and… again here today, they are so positive, so eager and keen to learn… They are all our children. They want peace, they want to be recognized.”

While several social media posts called for Liam Neeson to play the part of Fidel Castro in the fictitious biopic about the Cuban dictator, that is not the next role for the Taken actor. Instead, Liam Neeson will next be seen in Martin Scorsese’s Silence, according to People. For the movie due out next month, Liam Neeson lost more than 20 pounds for the role at the director’s request.

“Martin wanted us all to look a bit more gaunt, which [costars Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield] did as well. I know Adam went to the extreme. He’s an ex-Marine and when he’s given an order, he follows it through. He was like something out of Auschwitz. Martin requires this level of [dedication], and I think it pays off.”

What do you think about the Liam Neeson comparison with the late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro making the Internet explode this weekend? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

[Featured Image by Keystone/Getty Images and Warner Bros.]

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