Liam Neeson Criticizes Qui-Gon’s ‘Star Wars: Episode I’ Death

Liam Neeson, the actor who portrayed the cherished character Qui-Gon Jinn in the initial Star Wars prequel movie, feels that his character’s demise in the series was somewhat underwhelming.

During an interview with GQ magazine during the promotional tour for his latest film, “The Naked Gun”, Liam Neeson expressed his dislike for how his character was killed off in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” from 1999.

“I thought my death was a bit namby-pamby. I’m supposed to be a Master Jedi,” Neeson told GQ.

In a playful tone, I can’t help but admit, “I found myself drawn to that move. ‘Aim for your face! No, your stomach!’ ‘You got me!’ More like, oh come on. Not exactly a seasoned Jedi, I’d say,” I chuckled, accompanied by an eye roll, before concluding, “But let’s not forget, it was quite impressive.

In an epic lightsaber battle within the royal palace on Naboo, Qui-Gon Jinn is fatally wounded by Darth Maul during their fierce duel. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon’s apprentice, witnesses this tragic event as Darth Maul stabs Qui-Gon with his double-edged lightsaber, piercing the Jedi Master’s abdomen.

Neeson briefly reprised his role as Qui-Gon in the 2022 Disney+ spinoff miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi.

I found it quite enjoyable. It was only a single moment, but it felt special to reconnect with Ewan McGregor again, nearly 18 or 20 years since our last on-screen partnership as Jedi Master and apprentice in Episode I. The experience had a lovely warmth to it,” he expressed following the filming session with Ewan McGregor, such a long time after their initial collaboration.

In an interview with GQ, the star of Taken fondly recalled collaborating with the legendary creator and director of Star Wars, George Lucas, during the filming of Episode I.

“George doesn’t like directing, period. He told me that,” Neeson shared.

He would wrap up a scene and then comment, “Natalie Portman, could you speed things up just a bit more. Liam, let’s pick up the pace there.” In the editing room later on, that’s where he truly found pleasure in the process. However, when it came to directing actors and such tasks, he admitted to not enjoying them at all, as he reminisced.

Currently, Liam Neeson appears alongside Pamela Anderson in the film titled “The Naked Gun“, which is the fourth installment in the humorously parodying series by Leslie Nielsen, also named “The Naked Gun“.

The Naked Gun was released in theaters on August 1.

Actors Who Were Wasted in Star Wars Roles

Danny Trejo

In a natural and easy-to-read manner:

Danny Trejo, often serves as Robert Rodriguez’s inspiration, appearing in most of his productions. Therefore, it was no surprise when he showed up in the Rodriguez-directed series, “The Book of Boba Fett” on Disney+. However, his role was disappointingly minor; he portrayed the trainer for Boba Fett’s rancor pet in just a few minutes of screen time. Given that this is Machete we’re talking about, it’s hard to believe they didn’t want to give us a scene where he confronted Boba Fett!

Dominic Monaghan

It appears that each Disney’s “Star Wars” sequels have characters who receive considerable anticipation before release but end up having minimal screen time in the final films. In the movie “The Rise of Skywalker”, this character was Beaumont Kin, portrayed by Dominic Monaghan. Prior to the film, Beaumont was promoted as a skilled codebreaker working for the Rebels, and given his role as a key member of the “Lord of the Rings” cast and one of the original leads from the popular TV series “Lost”, it suggested that this character would be significant. However, in “The Rise of Skywalker”, Beaumont didn’t do much code breaking, or anything else for that matter.

Dominic West

A scant few years prior to my becoming the focal point in the iconic TV series, The Wire, I had a minuscule role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as a security guard who granted Anakin Skywalker access to Queen Amidala’s chambers. My part consisted of a smattering of expository lines and, remarkably, not even a close-up. Yet, I, Dominic West, seem tailor-made for portraying a charming, morally ambiguous smuggler akin to Han Solo. In theory, I could still step into those boots. Until then, my underutilized performance in The Phantom Menace continues as an absurd squandering of talent.

Gwendoline Christie

Enthusiasts were thrilled when ‘Game of Thrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie was chosen to portray Captain Phasma, a formidable Stormtrooper in a shiny armor suit, from ‘The Force Awakens’. However, what they received was essentially a minor appearance. The character primarily served as a means to utilize an eye-catching design initially conceived for Kylo Ren. Despite appearing in both ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’, Captain Phasma failed to leave any significant mark on either movie. In truth, any actor could have donned that undeniably stylish armor.

Jessica Henwick

Discussing “Game of Thrones”, Jessica Henwick has made appearances both in Westeros and beyond in the distant galaxy. She’s also taken on significant roles, such as Colleen Wing in “Iron Fist” and Bugs, a key character from the younger generation, in “The Matrix Resurrections”. Moreover, in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Henwick portrays an X-wing pilot.

Justin Theroux

When I initially took on the role of the Master Codebreaker in Canto Bight for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I was expecting a significant part in that sequence. However, during filming, director Rian Johnson revised the movie’s plot and my character’s role was significantly reduced. Despite this, he asked if I would still be interested in making a brief appearance, which I happily agreed to, even though it turned out to be more like an Easter egg for dedicated fans. It’s always great to see Justin Theroux on screen, but it’s even better when he gets to deliver lines or perform actions as well.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o transitioned from winning an Academy Award for her role in “12 Years a Slave” to portraying a relatively insignificant CGI character in the “Star Wars” sequels. Over three films, her character Maz Kanata failed to fully utilize Nyong’o’s remarkable abilities. In the initial film, she attempted to give Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber to Rey before passing it on to Finn. In “The Last Jedi,” she had a brief appearance where she instructed Finn, Poe, and Rose to visit Canto Bight in search of a Master Codebreaker. In “The Rise of Skywalker,” her role was primarily used to help clarify the General Leia storyline that was developed posthumously following the death of actress Carrie Fisher. Throughout these movies, she lacked any engaging moments, excitement, or emotional depth. Regardless of what Disney paid Nyong’o for these films, they did not receive a fair return on their investment.

Max Von Sydow

It’s quite possible you didn’t recall Max von Sydow’s role in The Force Awakens until this instant, but rest assured, he was indeed part of the cast. He portrayed Lor San Tekka, a character whose name is lengthier than von Sydow’s brief screen time in the movie. Lor San Tekka is an old friend of Luke Skywalker and the Jedi, providing Poe Dameron with the map to Luke’s location which becomes the central plot device. Regrettably, he meets his end shortly after this. Farewell, Lor San Tekka, you were barely with us at all.

In other words: It’s likely you didn’t recall that Max von Sydow was in The Force Awakens until now, but he certainly had a role – he played Lor San Tekka, whose name is longer than his appearance in the film. Lor San Tekka is an ally of Luke Skywalker and the Jedi, and provides Poe Dameron with a map to Luke’s location that becomes crucial to the storyline. However, his character doesn’t last long as he is killed off soon after. Farewell, Lor San Tekka, you were here for a very short time.

Rose Byrne

By 2002, Rose Byrne had already made a name for herself as an actress in her home country Australia; in fact, she even won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival in 2000 for her work in the film “Goddess of 1967.” However, her role in “Attack of the Clones” as one of Senator Amidala’s handmaidens could give the impression that she was a relatively new actress just being discovered. This might have been true from Hollywood’s perspective at the time. But in reality, she swiftly demonstrated her ability to take on more complex roles.

Sung Kang

To put it simply, any dedicated fan of the Fast & Furious series can vouch for Sung Kang’s captivating acting abilities. He possesses a charm that could easily lead a Star Wars series or film. In fact, his Fast & Furious character’s name, “Han Seoul-oh,” suggests he’s reminiscent of the iconic Millennium Falcon pilot. However, his portrayal in Star Wars fell short, as his character, Fifth Brother, was merely one of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Inquisitors and not particularly compelling. Perhaps it’s not too late to create a standalone Star Wars story featuring Sung Kang’s character instead?

Thandiwe Newton

In the film “Solo,” many talented actors were underutilized, but Thandiwe Newton’s character stood out as being shallow. Her character, Val, was initially partnered with Woody Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett, a skilled criminal who mentors Han Solo. Unfortunately, Newton’s character met an untimely death during a botched heist at the beginning of the movie, serving primarily to motivate Tobias for the remainder of the story. I believe Thandiwe Newton would have been more effectively utilized in other roles within “Solo,” as her passing left little impact on the plot. Newton herself was disappointed with Val’s character development, expressing that she had not initially been written to die, especially so decisively. She remarked, “You don’t kill off the first Black woman to ever have a substantial role in a ‘Star Wars’ movie. Are you seriously joking?” This highlights her frustration with the lack of depth given to her character in the film.

Titus Welliver

Titus Welliver is undeniably one of television’s finest actors, dating back to his roles in iconic series like “Deadwood,” “Lost,” and “Sons of Anarchy.” More recently, he gained prominence for portraying the lead character on Amazon’s police drama “Bosch” and its spinoff “Bosch: Legacy.” In a brief stint outside this universe, he made an appearance in one episode of “The Mandalorian,” playing the captain of an Imperial vessel laden with Mandalorian weapons coveted by Bo-Katan. Unfortunately, his character met his end at the close of that episode, ruling out any possibility of a reappearance. Ah well, we’ll forever cherish “Bosch.

2025-08-04 18:59