THE PHANTOM MENACE Star Liam Neeson On Why STAR WARS Spin-Offs Are Diluting The Franchise

THE PHANTOM MENACE Star Liam Neeson On Why STAR WARS Spin-Offs Are Diluting The Franchise

Following his memorable cameo appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn actor Liam Neeson has shared his take on why the sheer number of big and small screen spin-offs are actually diluting Star Wars.

By JoshWilding - Feb 18, 2023 11:02 PM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: SFFGazette.com

Liam Neeson played Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and while he's since lent his voice to animated versions of the character, it wasn't until last year's Obi-Wan Kenobi that we saw him back in live-action. Playing a Force Ghost, the actor only had a minor role in the series, but it's one that meant a lot to fans.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live on Thursday (via SFFGazette.com), Neeson explained why he's not angling for his own spin-off series. 

"No, I'm not," he stated when asked if he'd play Qui-Gon again in that capacity. "There's so many spin-offs of Star Wars. It's diluting it to me, and it's taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way."

Turning to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania star Paul Rudd, Neeson would add: "We did a TV version. I appeared in the last episode. I had two lines to say. Two lines. And that was cool! I loved doing that!" 

The Star Wars franchise has expanded massively in recent years, with a host of animated and live-action TV shows. Throw in movies like Rogue One and Solo alongside the recent sequel trilogy, and Neeson isn't wrong that there's a lot more Star Wars content available these days beyond the prequel and original trilogies.

That's been welcomed by many fans, but Lucasfilm has been very hit-and-miss since being acquired by Disney. With rumours swirling that the studio is going to announce its next movie at Star Wars Celebration in April, the hope is the franchise can bounce back in theaters after the disappointment that was 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.

Neeson clearly enjoyed his Obi-Wan Kenobi cameo, so while a full-blown return is off the table, we're hoping he might show up again somewhere! 

You can check out the full interview with Neeson below. 

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Matchesz
Matchesz - 2/18/2023, 11:02 PM
Nobody cares anymore, Disney is shamelessly bleeding out both starwars and marvel franchises til their both bone dry. Then they’ll find their next victims.
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 2/19/2023, 9:35 AM
@Matchesz - The MARVEL and Star Wars properties have become the bought and paid-for whores for Disney. And there's a reason why it's called the "world's oldest profession". 🤨 The oversaturation will continue for years to come... 🫤
CassianAndor
CassianAndor - 2/25/2023, 1:55 PM
@Matchesz - @SuperiorHeckler - Try watching Andor. I was done with Star Wars before that show. Now I’m in love with it again, or at least with Andor. Disney is definitely milking the franchise for everything they can, to mostly awful results, but if they keep occasionally hiring talent like Tony Gilroy and putting out quality content like Andor, I guess I don’t care. I can ignore everything else.
EZBeast
EZBeast - 2/18/2023, 11:07 PM
That is surprisingly accurate from a man who has done awful action movies to death. Disney made so many mistakes with this franchise…
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/19/2023, 5:20 AM
@EZBeast - Taken is not Star Wars. I'm sure he doesn't give a shit about how much they dilute the Taken franchise.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 2/18/2023, 11:13 PM
Too much Marvel and SW ruined the fun.. they only care about money and subscriptions
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 2/19/2023, 1:15 AM
@bobevanz -


It's just the reality with anything successful. You're gonna find a way to maximize profits. Look at Gunns new DC. Zaslav is gonna have him cranking out so much stuff that it's gonna be watered down before you know it




Look at John wick. A movie coming, spin off and tv show🥲
Toonstrack
Toonstrack - 2/19/2023, 2:30 AM
@bobevanz - speak for yourself. I'm having a ton of fun with the MCU and andor proves theres still a wishing well full of good stories to be told in that universe.
Fogs
Fogs - 2/19/2023, 5:06 AM
@bobevanz - Yeah. Pains me to say you're right. It's hard to keep quality when they have so much going on.

Hope Marvel's talk on scaling back down has a good effect to the MCU.
dracula
dracula - 2/18/2023, 11:15 PM
102% correct with a 2% margin of error

Doesnt help that disney has only made 1 good movie and 2 good shows, one of which they hurt by forcing q quick reversal to what the entire first 2 seasons were building up to

Star Wars animation is the only thing they havent messed up
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 2/18/2023, 11:30 PM
I wouldn't have a problem with the number of spinoffs if some them just weren't that good.
Taonrey
Taonrey - 2/18/2023, 11:34 PM
I mean that's what happens when you sell to Disney
IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 2/19/2023, 12:06 AM
Would like to see a young Qui-Gon series that shows him discover the secret of the Force Ghost.

Something more mystical/spiritual and in a very real word environment. Maybe filming in the jungles of somewhere.
Fogs
Fogs - 2/19/2023, 5:09 AM
@IronGenesis - I guess that's what he means with "taking the mistery away".
LSHF
LSHF - 2/19/2023, 12:10 AM
None of any of the Star Wars films held any mystery and/or magic to me (I think I was too old for that when the first one was released), BUT I have enjoyed all of them because they are cool-looking sci-fi movies with a wide variety of characters, creatures, ships, and weapons.

And that's what I like the most about them.
TyrantBossMedia
TyrantBossMedia - 2/19/2023, 12:53 AM
As someone who sat Episode 4 (when it was just called Star Wars) 20 times in the theater, and someone who religiously consumed anything Star Wars for decades, I never thought I would be tired of Star Wars.

Then Disney bought it.
Saga
Saga - 2/19/2023, 1:52 AM
Totally right, rn the annoucement of any new film would be a major meh. Remember all the hype just 7 years ago???
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