Liam Neeson, an Irish actor, is still upset about how his character died in Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The 73-year-old actor, who played Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in the 1999 prequel more than 20 years ago, has expressed his disapproval of how his character was eliminated during the pivotal fight with Darth Maul.
“I thought my death was a bit namby-pamby,” Liam recently told GQ magazine, reflecting on his role. “I’m supposed to be a Master Jedi. My character fell for the, ‘Oh, I’m going for your face! No, I’m not, I’m going for your stomach.’ ‘Oh, you got me!’ Like, oh please. Hardly a Master Jedi,” he added while rolling his eyes.
Liam Neeson Regarding His Star Wars Death: “Hardly a Master Jedi”
He was rather candid about Qui-Gon Jinn’s exit in The Phantom Menace, the character Neeson played in Star Wars, and surely, he did not hold anything back while doing so. He, of course, did that in an interview with GQ: He ridiculed Qui-Gon’s death scene by calling it “namby-pamby” and expressing disbelief that a master Jedi could ever be beaten so easily in battle.
In the film, Qui-Gon is mortally wounded in a duel with one Darth Maul, a Sith apprentice. It is that moment most notable and haunting about the Star Wars prequels that fans continue to hold dear. But, for Neeson, “he got stabbed, hardly a master Jedi exit.” The choreography and aftermath just don’t seem to have heft and intensity worthy of a Jedi, such as Qui-Gon. “Oh please. I mean, he got stabbed. Hardly a master Jedi exit,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek.
An Injection of Humor and Legacy in Neeson’s Jedi
Those remarks are clearly of humorous tones, yet his critique shines a light onto something more profound about the character’s legacy. A wise and powerful Jedi, Qui-Gon is supposed to exemplify balancing, intuitionistic, and rebellious independence from the strict Jedi Council. Fans admired his deep spiritual insights and his mentoring of a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. But, as Neeson pointed out, that wisdom or mastery was not reflected in his end.
The actor also noted there has been ongoing conversation regarding his brief existence in the franchise throughout the years. His surprise return in Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) as a Force ghost set borders for Qui-Gon teachings, suggesting legacies of Jedi that extended well beyond his sudden death in Episode I.
Neeson, however, admits to a fondness for the character, as well as for the Star Wars universe outside, accepting the possibility of future appearances along with the lines of voice or cameo. For fans, his words are a humorous reminder that even legendary actors have their own takes on how the story should unfurl.
