Liam Neeson Tears Into His Star Wars Death Scene: “Hardly a Jedi Master”

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Liam Neeson isn’t particularly fond of his death scene in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace”. During an interview for the comedy film “The Naked Gun”, Neeson spoke to GQ about some of his iconic roles, and a part of that discussion focused on his portrayal of Qui-Gon Jinn in the prequel trilogy. Looking back on his time making the movie, Neeson seemed to imply that Qui-Gon’s final battle with Darth Maul might have been more effectively handled, as he felt a wise and powerful Jedi character like Qui-Gon should have had a better chance in combat.

Neeson remarked, ‘I should be an expert Jedi, as you know,’ he said. ‘That whole “I’m coming for your face!” No, I’m not. I’m coming for your stomach.” [makes death noises] “Oh, got me!” It’s just ridiculous. Not very masterful of a Jedi. Yet, making the movie was fantastic.’

In 2022, I returned to the galaxy far, far away with my role in “Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi.” In the show’s climactic episode, my character, Qui-Gon Jinn, appeared as a Force spirit. This marked a poignant reunion between me and my former apprentice after a challenging odyssey. I also lent my voice to the character in an episode of “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi,” with my son, Micheál Richardson, bringing life to a younger Qui-Gon on that series.

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I must admit my excitement upon hearing Liam Neeson’s return for Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, it seems he may not be keen on revisiting the franchise again in the future. He expressed his concerns about the increasing number of spinoffs, stating they have a tendency to dilute the original charm and allure of the galaxy far, far away. In his own words, “It’s watering down the essence for me, and it’s stripping away the enigma and enchantment in an odd manner.

In contrast to Maul, who’s a formidable Sith warrior, it could be argued that Qui-Gon Jinn should not have been as readily defeated. Unlike Obi-Wan Kenobi’s self-sacrificing death in “Star Wars: A New Hope”, Qui-Gon was engaged in combat with Maul to win and live, so he could mentor Anakin Skywalker. Given his status as a Jedi Master, it’s reasonable to suppose that Qui-Gon possesses great Force strength and swordsmanship skills. During “The Phantom Menace”, he effortlessly dispatches several battle droids, demonstrating his combat abilities.

Absolutely, there’s a significant contrast between fighting defenseless robot soldiers and engaging in a sword fight with a zealous Sith apprentice yearning to demonstrate his skills. It’s also worth noting that the Sith were thought to have been extinct for a thousand years before the occurrences depicted in The Phantom Menace. The Jedi, possibly overconfident due to the Sith’s prolonged absence, may have neglected intense training as they assumed the threat was no longer present. This complacency might have led to Qui-Gon’s exhaustion; he hadn’t encountered a Sith warrior before his skirmish with Maul on Tatooine, and thus was not adequately prepared for such a formidable opponent. His demise might be attributed to fatigue, as he lacked experience in battling Sith.

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2025-08-02 00:29