Twenty-six years after one of Star Wars’ most shocking moments, Liam Neeson has some harsh words for his own demise. The actor who played Qui-Gon Jinn thinks his death scene in The Phantom Menace was, frankly, embarrassing.
A Jedi Master’s Undignified End
“I felt my death was a bit namby-pamby,” Neeson told GQ while promoting The Naked Gun. “I’m supposed to be a Master Jedi, you know?”
His criticism cuts to the heart of the scene that devastated a generation of fans. After an epic lightsaber duel, Darth Maul essentially sucker-punches Qui-Gon with his lightsaber hilt before delivering the fatal blow—a move Neeson clearly found beneath his character’s abilities.
“My character fell for that, ‘Oh, I’m going for your face, no, I’m not, I’m going for your stomach.’ ‘Oh, you got me!’ Oh, please. Hardly a Master Jedi,” he said with obvious disdain.
Behind-the-Scenes Revelations
Neeson’s candid comments didn’t stop there. He also revealed that George Lucas “doesn’t like directing” and told him so directly. According to Neeson, Lucas only starts enjoying the filmmaking process in the editing suite—not while actually working with actors.
The veteran actor also shared a amusing anecdote about being upstaged by Watto, the entirely CGI junk dealer, admitting he knew the digital character would steal every scene they shared.
The End of an Era
Despite his criticisms, Neeson acknowledged that his overall Phantom Menace experience “was great.” However, don’t expect him to return to the galaxy far, far away anytime soon. After a brief voice cameo in 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Neeson seems done with Star Wars.
“I think it’s over,” he stated definitively.
A Master’s Final Word
Neeson’s blunt assessment adds a fascinating layer to one of cinema’s most memorable death scenes. While fans have spent decades debating Qui-Gon’s fate and its impact on the saga, the man who brought the character to life clearly wishes his Jedi Master had gone out swinging rather than falling for what amounts to a playground trick.
Sometimes even the Force isn’t enough to overcome questionable choreography choices.
