Will we see Liam Neeson again as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in a future Star Wars film? The actor answers the question!
In 1999, Liam Neeson played Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. A role that the Irish actor has taken on several times.
He voiced the character in the animated series The Clone Wars and Tales of the Jedi and briefly appeared in the Disney+ series Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi which also marked the return of Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen in their respective roles as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
Warning, this paragraph contains spoilers for the ending of The Phantom Menace.
For the record, Qui-Gon Jinn trained Obi-Wan. In The Phantom Menace, the Jedi Master is killed by the Sith Lord Darth Maul. In the series Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Liam Neeson appears as Force Ghost.
A sequence loaded with emotions since during the press conference for the series, the actor revealed that he had shed a few tears of joy when meeting his accomplice Ewan McGregor 25 years after The Phantom Menace.
Asked by Screen Rant during the promotion of his latest action film Saints & Sinners, Liam Neeson spoke of a possible return to the George Lucas saga.
Liam Neeson returning in future Star Wars films?
While several films from the Star Wars universe are currently in preparation – New Jedi Order with Daisy Ridley, The Mandalorian & Grogu, projects by James Mangold and Patty Jenkins… – the American site asked the actor if he was ready to resume his role.
Liam Neeson said he was delighted to work with Ewan McGregor and George Lucas but was “too old” to reprise his role in a feature film.
Lucasfilm Liam Neeson
“I really admire Star Wars! I remember seeing Episode IV, the first one, in a small, crowded cinema in Belfast. We could hear sirens and cars coming and going down the street, and yet we were all transported to this small cinema, watching this extraordinary Star Wars story.
Episode IV? Has anyone seen the first three? No. It’s the first. So why did you call it IV? Because they’re f—-ng smart, that’s why!
Would I do it again? I do not believe. I’m too old, you know.
Regardless, would I do it again? I really enjoyed working with Ewan and George Lucas on The Phantom Menace. We filmed it 26 years ago! Would I do it again? I do not believe. I’m too old, you know. I can’t imagine it.”
Not too old for action
There is therefore very little chance of seeing again Liam Neeson reprising the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in a future Star Wars film.
On the other hand, the 71-year-old actor is not too old for action films since he is announced in the casting of Ice Road 2: Road To The Sky by Jonathan Hensleigh, The Riker’s Ghost by Neil Jordan, Charlie Johnson in the Flames by Justin Haythe and the action comedy The Naked Gun, remake of the cult classic Is There a Cop to Save the Queen?.