Liam Neeson Is Tooling With Us (Again)
It wouldn’t shock this reporter if Liam Neeson’s blue visage appeared on the small screen….
Back in January, I quoted a favorite Star Wars moment regarding Liam Neeson’s denial regarding Star Wars.
“I believe he’s tooling with you, sir.”
Last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the host asked Liam Neeson if he would appear on the new Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi show.
Is He Tooling With Us?
Watch the back and forth:
I heard Ewan McGreggor was going to do a series,” said the ACTOR. “No, I don’t think so, no.
“I haven’t been approached.”
Then, he joked, “They don’t have enough money.”
But then Kimmel turned the table and said, “The thing is, you are such a good actor, you could easily be lying, and we would have no idea.”
Silence ensued. Neeson smiled and seemed verklempt, and Jimmy took the hint. After all, Jimmy works for Disney, too.
That said, the net blew up with stories about Neeson denying involvement.
Obi-Wan Lied, Too
But, on his weekly Q&A, one of my most trusted sources of Star Wars content, Star Wars Explained, tackled the question, “Is Qui-Gon Really Not In the Kenobi Series?”
Asked by a fan whether not having Neeson in the series was a missed opportunity, Alex Damon said he had seen Neeson on Kimmel and smiled.
“I mean, of course, he’s going to say no,” he said. “I mean, I wouldn’t take this as confirmation that he is NOT in the Kenobi series.”
His partner in crime and life, Mollie Damon, agreed, saying, “Yeah, I wouldn’t either.
“If anything, this might just be like him trying to throw people off the scent. But… I don’t know.”
Alex also correctly pointed out that Ewan McGregor has lied to our faces for six years, saying, “He’s just waiting on the call for Kenobi.”
Which, of course, is an excellent point.
Also, if you go back in time to 1999, Neeson admitted to campaigning for the part of Qui-Gon.
In fact, after meeting with Georg Lucas and not talking about Star Wars, he thought he had not gotten the part. Moreover, when he was offered the part, no script showed up, not immediately, anyway.
“It was a leap of faith,” said Neeson. “But who is going to turn down George Lucas and Star Wars?”
Watch the vintage interview:
“It was great fun,” said Liam in understatement.
But at no point has Mr. Neeson ever sounded like someone who wouldn’t don the Jedi robes if given a chance.
What do you think? Will Qui-Gon Jinn return? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Feature Image: Lucasfilm