Related
Liam Neeson has since become synonymous with the character of Qui - Gon Jinn , but which other histrion were considered for the role ahead ofStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace ? First released domestically on May 19th , 1999,Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menaceopened to a mixed bag of review , withGeorge Lucas ' much - hyped prequel moviefailing to live up to the almost impossible level of outlook jell by the originalStar Warstrilogy 16 class prior . Several characters , such as the Gungans Jar Jar Binks ( Ahmed Best ) and Boss Nass ( Brian Blessed ) , received particular ire , with their one - dimensional , slapstick portrayals a far cry from the nuanced days of Luke Skywalker ( Mark Hammill ) and Leia Organa ( Carrie Fisher ) .
However , the subsequent years have been much kinder toThe Phantom Menace , with strong congratulations directed in hindsight at most of the movie ’s casting determination . Characters such as Ewan McGregor ’s Obi - Wan Kenobi and Ray Park ’s Darth Maul have continued to be hugely popular amongst theStar Warsfandom , with both doer ' iterations of their characters still featuring inStar Warscontent to this day . Qui - Gon Jinn ( Liam Neeson ) also falls into this family , with Neeson ’s operation persist the only unrecorded - action word-painting ofQui - Gon in theStar Warsuniverse to day of the month .
touch : How Phantom Menace ’s Ending Song References Return Of The Jedi
Qui - Gon ’s popularity within the contemporaryStar Warsfandom is such that he is even rumored to deliver in Disney+ ’s upcomingObi - Wan Kenobiminiseries as a Force Ghost . Yet despite Neeson ’s excellent spell as the sage Jedi master , there were several other high - visibility candidate in rivalry to play Qui - Gon in 1998 ahead ofThe Phantom Menace ’s waiver date . Here ’s every actor that was considered to act Qui - Gon inStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace , as well as why Liam Neeson rest the gross Qui - Gon Jinn .
Tom Hanks
Morgan Freeman
Having play the quintessential wise wise man inRobin Hood : Prince of Thieves(1991),The Shawshank Redemption(1994 ) , andSeven(1995 ) , it is small wonderment Morgan Freeman was considered for the role of Qui - Gon . While it persist indecipherable how far the legendary actor got inThe Phantom Menace ’s hearing process , Freeman bears all the hallmarks of a solidQui - Gon Jinn . Freeman ’s classifiable , iconic , and recognizably cryptical vocalization would also have add itself well to many of Qui - Gon ’s line from the movie , adding gravitas to key moments such as when Qui - Gon proclaims that Anakin is " the chosen one " before the Jedi council .
Related : Phantom Menace : How Did The Battle Droids Get Through The Gungan Shield ?
Kurt Russell
Another A - list actor to a great extent considered to act Qui - Gon in 1998 was Kurt Russell , who at the metre was a bonafide wiz following iconic turns inTombstone , The Thing , Escape From New York , andExecutive determination . Russell was reportedly very keen to be a part of theStar Warsuniverse , with theBig Trouble in Little Chinaactor also auditioning for the role of Han Solo inStar war : Episode IV - A New Hopebefore being reconsidered for Qui - Gon . Although the reasons behind why Russell did not get the part remain unknown , it is likely due to his condition as an out - and - out action star in the tardy 1980s and nineties that may have add too much of a rocky - and - tumble edge to the monk - like Qui - Gon .
Kyle MacLachlan
PerTwitter , another more left - field name in contention to fiddle Qui - Gon was Kyle MacLachlan , who was no unknown to heroic space opera after playing the lead purpose of Paul Atreides in David Lynch ’s oft - malignedDune1984 . With his whizz further pad by a career - define performance asDale Cooper inTwin Peaks(1990 - 1991 ) , MacLachlan was well - positioned to enrol a franchise as giving asStar Wars . Like Kurt Russell before him , it stay unreadable why MacLachlan did not make the stinger for Lucas - but many have speculate that his young look in 1998 worked against him getting the character of a sassy , comparatively old Jedi master .
Why Liam Neeson Is The Perfect Qui-Gon Jinn
While some name calling turn over , such as Tom Hanks and Morgan Freeman , appear tantalizing propositions , Liam Neeson ’s turn as Qui - Gon Jinn rise George Lucas got his molding calls spot - on forThe Phantom Menace . AlthoughThe Phantom Menacereceived some frosty reviews upon vent in 1999 , critics were still particularly take byNeeson ’s Qui - Gon performance , praising the lovingness and depth he brought to the role . It is likely that many critic were seeing Neeson ’s passion for the undertaking reflect back at them , with Neeson reportedly ( perIMDB ) so excited to be a part ofStar Warsthat he signed ontoThe Phantom Menaceproject without read the picture ’s handwriting . In this way , Neeson ’s public presentation as Qui - Gon endures in modern-day culture , with the clamor for Qui - Gon ’s Force Ghost to return ( after Yoda confirmed its beingness inStar Wars : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith ) at a near - ceaseless delivery . While there undoubtedly were other actor in 1998 that fit the Qui - Gon mold , Liam Neeson remains the perfect choice to play the Jedi master keep abreast his functioning inStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace .
Next : How Phantom Menace ’s Panaka later on Betrayed Padmé ( & Almost Did Leia )
