STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE Actor Ahmed Best Open To Returning As Jar Jar Binks

STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE Actor Ahmed Best Open To Returning As Jar Jar Binks

Ahmed Best is returning to a Galaxy Far, Far Away for Disney+'s new game show Jedi Temple Challenge, and the actor has now revealed that he's open to reprising the role of Jar Jar Binks...on one condition!

By JoshWilding - Jun 06, 2020 07:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars

Ahmed Best dealt with a lot of backlash after playing Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels, none of which was really his fault. The CGI character created by George Lucas struck a chord with a lot of younger viewers, but fans of the original trilogy couldn't really get on board with the clumsy Gungan.

Recently, it was rumoured that we could see Jar Jar return in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series coming to Disney+, and the response to that news has been surprisingly positive. In fact, when Best appeared at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago last year, he was met with a standing ovation, and is now set to host the Disney+ game show Jedi Temple Challenge as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq.

As a result, it feels like the tide is turning for the actor, and that's evident from what he said when one fan recently asked if he would be open to reprising the role one day. 

"I would return as [Jar Jar Binks]," the actor says, "but it really depends on the story."

The Aftermath novels set between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens hinted that Jar Jar had become a widely hated street performer on Naboo, and no one would blame Best for not wanting to reprise the role if that's what it would entail.

What do you guys think?
 

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Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 6/6/2020, 7:37 AM
Considering what he went through the first time around my one condition would be an uninhabited island in the Caribbean.
Imfunnyhow
Imfunnyhow - 6/6/2020, 7:38 AM
Thanks but no thanks
sadham
sadham - 6/6/2020, 7:44 AM
who's Ahmed Worst?
manofillintent1
manofillintent1 - 6/6/2020, 7:47 AM
Wasn’t there a documentary on how this ruined his life? or am I mistaken?
RokoVII
RokoVII - 6/6/2020, 4:10 PM
@manofillintent1 - yeah the poor guy was actually suicidal
rkshuttleworth
rkshuttleworth - 6/7/2020, 1:47 AM
@RokoVII - And that was before social media was a thing. Goes to tell you fans can be the worst even without social media.
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 6/6/2020, 7:49 AM

I mean, is J.Binksy not perceived as a racist stereotype anymore??? When EXACTLY did that happen?!😂 Despite some (perhaps tone-deaf) people appreciating that character, I would strongly encourage Ahmed Best, to permanently retire from Jar Jar. Especially in today's current social climate.
Philvis
Philvis - 6/6/2020, 8:57 AM
@WAKANDABATMANFOREVER - that is the biggest load of bunk. How is it racist? Jar Jar was a silly character meant to make children laugh. Because he was a bumbling character played by a Black man it is racist? Were all Gungans like him in how they spoke? Nope. That was Ahmed Best's take on a character that was meant to be the Prequel's C3-P0. If you stare at a cloud hard enough, you can make it whatever you want it to be.
Supes17
Supes17 - 6/6/2020, 7:50 AM
I hope they at least let him play a new character.
FryQN
FryQN - 6/6/2020, 8:05 AM
No thanks, you don't have to on our account. No, really...you don't have to.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 6/6/2020, 8:30 AM
Just about most everyone disliked the character, to put it politely. But the way the actor was treated subsequently in his personal life just isn't right.
Stinkor1
Stinkor1 - 6/6/2020, 8:53 AM
The only way this would be good is to have an episode of obiwan where he meets up with jar jar and he is old and grizzled and depressed and hating himself for the part he u wittingly played in the emperors rise. At the very least to get some closure or something for the character. If only because he had a huge role in Phantom, a big role in Clones, and a blink and you miss it cameo in Sith.
CplHicks
CplHicks - 6/6/2020, 9:45 AM
"It depends on the story." That's rich. Bus fair and a ham sandwich and this guy is in.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 6/6/2020, 10:26 AM
Good on him. He must have really made amends with it considering he was seconds away from jumping off a bridge after all the hate he faced the first time.
rkshuttleworth
rkshuttleworth - 6/7/2020, 1:51 AM
@THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - He didn't have to make amends for anything. He was playing a role he was asked to do. If it wasn't him it would have been someone else. Of course, maybe you chose the wrong word - amends was definitely not the right one.
L0RDbuckethead
L0RDbuckethead - 6/6/2020, 1:02 PM
Makes sense, as he recently landed a hosting gig for a children's game show on the SW YouTube channel.



Also, I feel like he (and the character for that matter) isn't nearly as "hated" as the internet makes it seem. Probably thanks to the Darth Jar Jar thread from a few years ago. I personally think it would be cool to see him return as Jar Jar, FWIW.

bobbo68
bobbo68 - 6/6/2020, 4:11 PM
The worst Star Wars character ever

ShortandAngry
ShortandAngry - 6/6/2020, 4:19 PM
Why the hell not. Just don’t annoy the hell out of me and make it logical to have him in the story. It’s not gonna end the world. Make him rounded. Like he’s seen some shit. And it changed him ....



Kevwebsz
Kevwebsz - 6/6/2020, 6:32 PM
I feel like now there's a soft spot and fans aren't hating Jar Jar as much as the entire sequel trilogy. Honestly feel like if he popped up people would cheer. I'm definitely happier seeing him and thinking of the prequels than the new ones (even though I like some new characters)
MrCamw1
MrCamw1 - 6/6/2020, 8:13 PM
@Kevwebsz - agreed. I remember there was like a sad ass comic where he was like a gester or something and it was sad.
bcom
bcom - 6/6/2020, 11:45 PM
I’m genuinely surprised he would consider it considering the backlash reaction to Jar Jar drove the poor guy into deep depression and made him suicidal. It was probably one of the first examples of toxic fandom.
rkshuttleworth
rkshuttleworth - 6/7/2020, 1:54 AM
@bcom - Maybe he has gotten over it somewhat, although he would want it to be more than him acting like the klutz that Jar Jar was before. He realizes that the character played an essential part of the story regardless of what fans want to think about it.
AbidNaga
AbidNaga - 6/7/2020, 5:16 AM
@bcom - Unfortunately that hasn't changed, especially with the anonymity and size of social media today. Hell, the same things happened with the new trilogy. Not even mentioning the degree it happens to comic writers, which is insane to me since its a constantly looping medium and people would rather tell someone to go kill themselves than wait a year for a new creative team to take over.
bcom
bcom - 6/7/2020, 2:12 PM
@AbidNaga - Given that social media wasn't what it is now back when Ahmed was being harassed, just imagine what he would be going through had The Phantom Menace been released now. The poor guy had to go into hiding and because of the backlash he was told by his agent that he'll likely never work in the industry again. Working on a Star Wars movie would be one of the biggest thrills out there for any actor yet the so called "fans" can turn it into a living nightmare. Just look at what Kelly Marie Tran went through as well. She went through therapy and quit all social media because of the abuse she was getting. "Fans" really don't deserve anything but they feel like they do and throw tantrums when they don't get it like spoiled little children.
toylled
toylled - 6/7/2020, 2:50 AM
he may well want to return, not sure anyone else wants him or the character to tho lol
marvel72
marvel72 - 6/8/2020, 5:39 AM
Bring him back,just to kill him off.
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