George Lucas Had To Tell Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor To Stop Making Lightsaber Noises
In a recent episode of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, Liam Neeson discussed his turn in the Star Wars universe as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.
NIason originally appeared in 1999’s The Phantom Menace as the maverick Jedi who trained Obi-Wan Kenobi and discovered Anakin Skywalker.
Since that appearance, Jinn has been a fan-favorite Star Wars character, whose story has been expanded on in both animation (Tales of the Jedi) and live-action (Obi-Wan Kenobi).
Neeson Has Soured On Star Wars
Although Neeson reprised his role as Qui-Gon for both of those appearances, his view of the franchise has soured in recent years. The Taken star has long lamented how “diluted” Star Wars has become since its acquisition by Disney.
When asked by O’Brien about Star Wars fans asking for audiences, he even referred to the group as “a cult.”
“Not all the time,” Neeson answered. “I mean it is a cult. There’s so many movies and spin-offs now I think it’s diluting the whole thing. That’s my personal thing. Occasionally there’s kids after a ‘Star Wars’ autograph and I don’t want to give autographs at the airport. Oh but it’s not the kid, it’s the grandfather, there he is – or the dad. They become 11 year olds.”
Neeson and McGregor Kept Making Lightsaber Noises During Duels
Elsewhere in the interview, Neeson reflected back on The Phantom Menace and revealed that during their first lightsaber fight, both he and Ewan McGregor would instinctively make lightsaber noises as they fought.
“The first time we actually had to use the lightsaber to start a little fight… We both automatically [made the noises],” Neeson said. “George said, ‘Let’s cut there. Boys, we can add that in later.’”
Recalling The Phantom Menace’s CGI
While less impressive when viewed through more modern eyes, the CGI in The Phantom Menace was groundbreaking at the time. It was so impressive in fact, that Neeson remembers a makeup artist lamenting that her work wouldn’t matter.
“I was supposed to be doing this scene with [Watto], a little flying monster,” Neeson remembered. “I didn’t know what this thing was going to look like. It was a green tennis ball that was eventually going to be this flying monster. I’m in the makeup chair, and the lady says, ‘I did see a mock-up of the monster, and you could be a monkey smoking a pipe and no one is going to be looking at you.’”
While Neeson seems down on Star Wars these days, he is still held in high regard by the franchise’s legions of fans. Hopefully, Neeson will come around and we will see more of Qui-Gon Jinn.