Highlights
- Qui-Gon Jinn's brief but impactful role in Star Wars solidified his status as a fan-favorite Jedi.
- Liam Neeson's unlikely return as Qui-Gon Jinn due to age highlights the character's legacy.
- Despite doubts of a live-action return, Neeson's voice may still bring Qui-Gon Jinn back in animation.
In a recent interview, actor Liam Neeson spoke on his role as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Jinn first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in 1999, which was released almost 16 years after the previous entry in the Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Unfortunately, Neeson’s commentary on the role included a logical reason for why he may never return to it.
Qui-Gon Jinn is a fan-favorite Star Wars character, widely considered one of the greatest Jedi in the franchise. Fans applaud his charismatic balancing of being a wise mentor while also disregarding the Jedi council, sometimes with a devil-may-care attitude. Perhaps one of the reasons Jinn is so well regarded by fans is the “short, but sweet” nature of his appearance. Jinn dies at the hands of Darth Maul, the Sith apprentice of Darth Sidious. Jinn’s sacrifice paved the way for the Skywalker Saga, setting young Anakin Skywalker on the path that led him to becoming Darth Vader.
Star Wars: Qui-Gon Jinn's History Explained
The wise mentor played by Liam Neeson only appears in The Phantom Menace, but there's a lot of this character that didn't make the big screen.
Fans of the character have often wondered whether he will appear again at some point in the franchise. Outside of his recent cameo at the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Neeson spoke about the improbability of reprising the role in an interview with Screen Rant. “I enjoyed very much being with Ewan and George Lucas on The Phantom Menace," Neeson said. "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?”
It is true that Neeson was around 46 when first playing Qui-Gon Jinn. The actor boasts an age of 71 years old currently. While his cameo in Obi-Wan Kenobi was able to happen, Neeson’s age makes any return to the character besides as a Force ghost highly doubtful. Even as a Force ghost strains believability, because after all, why would a Force ghost continue aging after death?
Still, Neeson only commented on his live-action return to playing Qui-Gon Jinn, despite Screen Rant also asking about an animated reprisal. Neeson did voice Qui-Gon Jinn in season 1 of Tales of the Jedi. With a second season confirmed to be released this year, it’s completely possible that Neeson, well-versed in not giving away Star Wars spoilers, may return to the character in the second season. Neeson’s distinctive voice has not disappeared with age.
While Neeson’s comments may serve as a disappointment to those wanting to see more live-action Qui-Gon Jinn, it does lend more to the power of his character. It’s a testament that he became so iconic with so little screen time compared to other Star Wars legends. Despite the improbability of his live-action return, there may yet be hope for Qui-Gon Jinn to live on through animated adventures.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise originally created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd with the 1977 motion picture. The science fiction franchise follows the adventures of characters (both humanoid and alien) in outer space including those who can wield a mystical power known as the Force. Since the release of the original trilogy of movies, the franchise has expanded to include multiple films and branched out to other media like comics, video games, tv shows, theme park attractions, and more. The IP and Lucasfilm were sold to Disney in 2012.
