Star Wars Fans’ Suspicion About The Phantom Menace Confirmed After 26 Years

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After 26 years, Ewan McGregor, the star of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, has validated fan speculations regarding the authenticity of the movie’s iconic lightsaber duel. During his visit at Fan Expo Boston (as reported by Collider), the actor reminisced about filming The Phantom Menace and offered insights into some of the technical aspects behind the action sequence. McGregor and Ray Park, who played Darth Maul, were executing their fight choreography so rapidly that director George Lucas worried it wouldn’t appear convincing to viewers. As The Phantom Menace was being filmed on celluloid, Lucas used a technique to slow things down.

During our fight, McGregor mentioned that George had asked for the camera speed to be increased, a technique known as ‘over-cranking.’ This is done when filming on traditional film cameras, where you can manipulate the speed of the film passing through the camera. If the camera runs fast and the playback is slowed down, it creates a slow-motion effect. McGregor recalled that George asked for the camera to be slightly over-cranked because he and Ray were moving so quickly during the fight, and he was concerned that people might not believe how swiftly they were fighting.

In the iconic tune “Duel of the Fates,” composed by John Williams, the thrilling lightsaber battle between Darth Maul, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi stands out as one of the most memorable scenes in the film. This duel is often praised for being among the finest in Star Wars history, offering viewers a glimpse of Jedi and Sith masters at their peak. The intricate fight sequences were unlike anything previously seen in the original trilogy, showcasing the exceptional abilities of these skilled warriors.

Although many fans appreciate the lightsaber battle in “The Phantom Menace”, Liam Neeson expressed displeasure that his character Qui-Gon Jinn was so swiftly defeated. In a recent interview, the actor jokingly commented that Qui-Gon didn’t deserve the title of “master Jedi” due to succumbing to one of Maul’s ploys. However, Neeson also shared that he enjoyed his experience working on the film overall.

According to McGregor’s statement, it becomes clear that the actors in the prequel trilogy were incredibly dedicated to their training, as the lightsaber fights were meticulously planned out. To execute the moves swiftly, one had to not only understand all the steps but also memorize the entire sequence thoroughly. This level of expertise required a significant amount of repetition, practice, and dedication. Interestingly, despite Lucas’s reputation for favoring fast-paced and intense direction, he decided to slow down the lightsaber duel in “The Phantom Menace,” perhaps finding McGregor and Park too proficient at their roles.

As a movie reviewer, I must say, the swift actions of McGregor and Park in their epic Jedi-Sith showdown were not surprising. After all, they embodied the very essence of powerful characters that needed to shine on screen. The lightsaber duels in these prequels, unlike Alec Guinness’s battle against Darth Vader in Star Wars: A New Hope, were a fresh and exciting departure for fans craving more intense lightsaber conflicts. Thankfully, Lucas had a few aces up his sleeve to ensure that no moment of this thrilling spectacle was lost amidst the excitement.

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2025-08-12 20:57