The reception to “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” has been nothing less than fascinating. Originally mixed, to say the least, the film angered older fans of the franchise, but has not started to be re-examined through kinder eyes by younger fans who’ve grown up with the prequel trilogy as well as fans of the expanded universe, including the animated shows. Among those looking back at the films is Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn himself, Liam Neeson, who commented not only on the movie, but how one of its stars was treated by fans.
Talking to Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show, Liam Neeson looked back on the first of the “Star Wars” prequels, and how extreme fan backlash robbed Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best from becoming a bigger star that could have rivaled Eddie Murphy. “I know a lot of fans and critics didn’t like it and my lovely friend Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks, came in for a lot, a lot of criticism. To the point where it really hurt his career,” Neeson said. “And I have to say when I was making that film, he was probably one of the funniest guys and talented guys I have ever worked with. I remember calling my old ex-agent at ICM and said, ‘I think I just worked with the new Eddie Murphy.’ I still believe that.”
“Truly, he is one of the funniest guys,” the actor continued. “He had all of us in stitches — including George Lucas. And then bam, the film comes out and he’s attacked, personally attacked by fans and critics for whatever reasons.” Neeson added that he remains “very proud of the film,” and said “I got to be a Jedi, got to play with those wonderful lightsabers and stuff, it was terrific. It really was. I liked the movie. I’m proud of it. I’m proud to have been a part of it.”
Whatever your opinion on the prequel trilogies, it cannot be denied the influence they had. Not only did they bring the franchise far, far away to a whole new generation of fans, but introduced a new time period in the history of the galaxy that has now been explored more extensively than even the time period of the original trilogy.
As for Ahmed Best and Liam Neeson, there is a reason both their characters continued to appear in everything from comicbooks to “The Clone Wars” TV series in extended roles.