Liam Neeson Hops On The "Battleship" Liam Neeson is joining the cast of Universal's "Battleship" alongside Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker and Rihanna . Deal was announced Tuesday, the same day director Peter Berg began shooting the live-action tentpole based on Hasbro's naval combat board game. Neeson will portray Admiral Shane alongside Kitsch, who portrays Shane's future son-in-law. Decker is playing Shane's daughter. Skarsgard will play the brother to Kitsch's character. U has set a May 18, 2012, release date for "Battleship," which takes place across the seas, over the skies and land in a battle for planet survival against a superior force. Kitsch, who also works with Berg in the NBC series "Friday Night Lights," stars as a naval officer who leads the fight. "Battleship" is being produced by Scott Stuber through his U-based Stuber Pictures; Sarah Aubrey and Berg for Film 44; Brian