“Liam Neeson Nixes Qui-Gon Jinn’s Live-Action Star Wars Comeback – Yet a Door May Remain Open for His Return”
Exclusive: Liam Neeson tells Screen Rant whether he’d be willing to return to play the part of Qui-Gon again – and there may be wriggle-room.
Liam Neeson, who played Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, has a simple reason for believing he’s unlikely to return to Star Wars.
A maverick even among the Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn is generally considered one of the greatest heroes of the Star Wars saga. Had Qui-Gon defeated Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker saga would have been very different. Viewers have long been fascinated by Qui-Gon, leading many to wonder whether Liam Neeson will ever return to the role again – perhaps as a Force ghost, or a story elsewhere in the timeline.
Screen Rant spoke to Neeson for his upcoming movie In the Land of Saints and Sinners and discussed the possibility of an animated or live-action return to Star Wars.
“I enjoyed very much being with Ewan and George Lucas on The Phantom Menace,” Neeson recalled fondly. “We shot that 26 years ago! Would I do it again? I don’t think so. Too ******* old, ya know? I can’t see the situation, I really can’t, you know?” While Neeson enjoyed Qui-Gon’s cameo in Obi-Wan Kenobi, he doesn’t envision ever returning to live-action.
Viewed as a maverick Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn was willing to learn from other Force traditions – and some of those lessons taught him how to retain his consciousness after death, becoming the first Force Ghost.
Qui-Gon discovered Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine, recognizing him as the Chosen One, and swore to train the boy. This oath was passed to Qui-Gon’s apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, after Qui-Gon was killed by Darth Maul. He remained influential from beyond the veil, however, teaching others how to follow in his Force Ghost footsteps.Liam Neeson Didn’t Rule Out An ANIMATED Return…
It’s important to note, though, that Screen Rant asked about both a live-action or animated return – and Neeson’s response was clearly whether he’d perform the role of Qui-Gon Jinn again in live-action.
In addition to his Obi-Wan Kenobi cameo, Neeson also voices Qui-Gon in Tales of the Jedi season 1, and it’s easy to imagine a scenario where he did that again. Tales of the Jedi season 2 is confirmed to come out this year, and nothing is yet known about the Jedi who will be featured.
Neeson wasn’t the only one to play Qui-Gon Jinn in Tales of the Jedi season 1; his son Micheál Richardson voiced a younger Qui-Gon as well.
Several Star Wars prequel trilogy stars have returned to live-action in recent years, most notably Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen; even Ahmed Best appeared in The Mandalorian season 3, now playing Jedi Master Kelleran Beq rather than Jar Jar Binks.
But it’s much harder for Neeson to return to play the live-action Qui-Gon Jinn, given the character was killed in The Phantom Menace, and Force ghosts aren’t supposed to age. Neeson’s rather blunt assessment is quite accurate from an in-universe perspective, too.
That doesn’t mean the comment isn’t a little disappointing, of course. It would be thrilling to see this particular Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace alumni play Qui-Gon Jinn in live-action again. But, sadly, that doesn’t seem at all likely.
