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Liam Neeson Isn't Interested In A Star Wars Qui-Gon Jinn Spinoff
Liam Neeson has sadly indicated he isn't interested in reprising the role of Qui-Gon Jinn in a Star Wars prequel series spinoff. Disney has transformed Star Wars into a transmedia franchise, in large part because of the success of Lucasfilm's Disney+ Star Wars TV shows. These have seen high-profile actors reprise their roles from the movies,and even Liam Neeson reprised the role of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in Obi-Wan Kenobi - with his character appearing as a Force ghost to his old apprentice. Neeson also voiced the character in the Tales of the Jedi animated shorts, leading viewers to speculate the actor could soon play the part in a live-action prequel series of some kind.
During a recent fan interview with Men's Health, Neeson directly addressed the idea of appearing in a Star Wars Disney+ TV show. "No," he answered simply. "Star Wars, no. As much as I admire them... There's just so many of them now. So I've lost track, unfortunately." Neeson's comments will no doubt come as something of a disappointment to many viewers, who were hoping to see more of the legendary Jedi Master - a character who was killed by Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, and yet had such a massive impact on the franchise.
Qui-Gon Jinn's Story Has Been Explored In Other Mediums
As noted, Star Wars is a transmedia franchise. While Neeson is apparently unwilling to reprise the role of Qui-Gon Jinn for a prequel series, the maverick Jedi Master's tale is being explored in other mediums.
Kiersten White's young-adult novel Padawan explores the relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, his Padawan, and reveals the two initially struggled to bond - with the young Obi-Wan feeling a lot more similar to Anakin Skywalker than he would realize years later. Marvel Comics has published several other stories in this period, further fleshing out Qui-Gon's relationship with his Padawan.
Meanwhile, Claudia Gray's novel Master & Apprentice shows an older Obi-Wan on a mission with Qui-Gon Jinn, and reveals why Qui-Gon was primed to recognize the Chosen One. It seems Qui-Gon was one of the few Jedi who studied ancient Jedi prophecies, and he recognized their pattern working out in his own lifetime. This led him to believe the Chosen One was about to be born - and it is surely no coincidence the Force led Qui-Gon, of all Jedi, to Tatooine. It's gradually becoming clear Qui-Gon would have saved Anakin from the dark side, simply because he understood the balance of the Force much better than most Jedi.
The news Neeson will not be returning to Star Wars to star in his own Disney+ TV show is disappointing. Still, hopefully he will be willing to continue making cameos, as he did in Obi-Wan Kenobi and Tales of the Jedi. It would be thrilling to see Qui-Gon Jinn continue to develop as a character on the small screen.
