The following article contains minor spoilers for the season finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi, streaming now on Disney+.
The season finale of Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi series featured the long-awaited return of a pivotal Star Wars prequel trilogy character-- none other than the titular Jedi's mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn, once again played by actor Liam Neeson.
The actor recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his reprisal and the reasons why he decided to return. "I certainly didn't want anyone else playing Qui-Gon Jinn, and I wanted to show my respect for George [Lucas] and that mythical world that he created." He said. "Plus, Ewan [McGregor] is a pal, and I loved working with him during The Phantom Menace 25 years ago."
Despite the criticism lodged toward Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which saw the debut of Neeson's Jedi master, the actor himself has maintained a fondness for the film. In recent years, Neeson confirmed he continues to be proud of his work in the film. "I know a lot of fans and critics didn't like it... I'm very proud of the film. I got to be a Jedi. I got to play with those wonderful lightsabers and stuff, and it was terrific... it really was," he said.
The actor did his part to keep his appearance in the series a secret, going so far as to suggest he may not appear in a television series centered on Obi-Wan. When asked if he would reprise his Phantom Menace role earlier this year, the actor said, "I think so, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think so ... if it was a film. Yeah, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to TV, I must admit, I just like the big screen, you know?"
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace premiered in 1999 and began the Star Wars prequel trilogy, exploring the childhood and troubled past of Anakin Skywalker, as well as Palpatine's machinations and his plot to transform the Republic into an empire. Despite criticism, the film ultimately proved to be a massive success, earning $924.3 million.
On top of Qui-Gon, the film also introduced another fan-favorite character, Darth Maul. Despite the outcome of their duel in Phantom Menace, Maul has been shown to have survived the encounter and has become an integral part of the Star Wars universe beyond the films.
All episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi are available for streaming on Disney+.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter