The old saying runs that no one dies for real in science fiction. There are so many ways a character can be rescued from death’s icy grip in the genre that few slayings truly have an impact. And Liam Neeson’s Darth Maul-ing didn’t seem to worry Qui-Gon Jinn too much in Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace, since the Jedi master had access to the Force. And so it comes to pass, as Neeson is voicing the character for spin-off ‘toon** The Clone Wars.
Neeson has recorded a couple of episodes’ worth of dialogue, for shows that will air across the pond on January 28 and February 11. Qui-Gon will be appearing in visions to protégé Obi-Wan Kenobi, though probably not dropping the info about Anakin Skywalker’s dark future, which would play merry havoc with continuity. Nope, mostly he’ll be talking about the lad, but in terms of him being the chosen one.
So, given that Neeson had no real driving reason to come back to George Lucas’ galactic playground, what drew him? “These characters resonate…even after all these years,” he tells Entertainment Weekly. “Growing up, my heroes were cowboys; they were strong and mysterious, and it seemed like they always rode off into the sunset. For kids today, Star Wars has that same kind of magic. I really wanted to be a part of that." Fair enough.
While the current crop of Clone War****s cartoons have attracted some solid tonsil talent in the past – Jon Favreau, Clancy Brown, Ron Perlman and George Takei among them – the only person who has really returned to their role from the prequels is Ahmed Best, the voice of Jar Jar Binks. Neeson is a real casting coup for the series. You can see a quick clip of him in action over at EW…