Liam Neeson Criticizes STAR WARS Spin-Offs: ‘It’s Taken Away The Magic’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Former STAR WARS actor Liam Neeson spoke out about the current state of the franchise, including its ever-increasing world of spin-offs, sequels and prequels.
Neeson starred as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in THE PHANTOM MENACE and ATTACK OF THE CLONES.
During a recent interview, the actor was asked if he was interested in returning to the franchise for a Qui-Gon Jinn spin-off.
“No, I’m not,” Neeson said. “There’s so many spin-offs of STAR WARS. It’s diluting it to me, and it’s taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way.”
He did admit that “it was nice” to reprise his role and reunite with former co-star Ewan McGregor for OBI-WAN KENOBI.
“That was cool. I loved it,” he added, but “that’s it” for his STAR WARS appearances, Neeson emphasized.
Movieguide® previously reported on Neeson’s denial that he would appear in OBI-WAN KENOBI:
STAR WARS fans were elated to discover that Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen would reprise their roles in the upcoming Disney+ series focused on Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The initial announcement led fans to believe others from the Star Wars universe, like Samuel L. Jackson and Liam Neeson, might return to the franchise. However, the 69-year-old Neeson denied the rumors in a recent interview with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
“I heard Ewan McGregor was going to do a series,” Neeson said. “No, I don’t think so. No, I haven’t been approached.”
Neeson starred alongside McGregor as Qui-Gon Jinn in the 1999 prequel to the original trilogy, THE PHANTOM MENACE. The Disney+ series is set to follow Obi-Wan’s character leading up to his appearance in 1997’s A NEW HOPE, where Alec Guinness offered the first portrayal of the fan-favorite character in the sweeping STAR WARS franchise.
Unlike McGregor and Christensen, who will likely reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Neeson’s character was killed in THE PHANTOM MENACE before the events of A NEW HOPE.
The series will also star Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell, and Benny Safdie.
Disney announced more spinoff series after the successful first two seasons of THE MANDALORIAN.
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