Ahmed Best Celebrates the Return of Jar Jar Binks to the Star Wars Franchise

Ahmed Best Celebrates the Return of Jar Jar Binks to the Star Wars Franchise

As a long-time fan of the galaxy far, far away and a connoisseur of all things Star Wars, I must say that the return of Jar Jar Binks in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy has brought a nostalgic smile to my face. It’s been quite some time since we last saw this divisive yet endearing character, and it’s fascinating to see how the theory of Jar Jar being a Sith Lord has not only persisted but also found its way into the new series.


For a quarter of a century now, Star Wars enthusiasts have encountered one of the franchise’s most contentious characters – none other than Jar Jar Binks – who is making a return in the latest LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy animated miniseries. To mark this occasion, actor Ahmed Best has shared his reflections about the character he has played with honor since the release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace back in 1999 on social media platforms.

As a dedicated Star Wars fan, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and nostalgia when hearing about the reemergence of the intriguing theory that Jar Jar Binks might be a Sith Lord. This idea, which has been circulating since the release of “The Phantom Menace,” has gained momentum over the years, becoming almost a shared secret among us fans. Interestingly, it seems that the new Star Wars series is acknowledging this conspiracy as a nod to our community, keeping the assumption alive and, in turn, keeping Jar Jar Binks relevant even after his last screen appearance in 2014’s Season 6 of “The Clone Wars.” Despite not being seen on screen for some time, Jar Jar remains a topic of discussion among us fans, and continues to make appearances in novels and video games.

The Jar Jar Binks Project That Never Saw the Light of Day

Before making an appearance in “The Clone Wars”, Binks was initially planned for “Star Wars Detours”, a comical animated series that provided a light-hearted perspective on events occurring between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope”, or in other words, the gap between Episodes III and IV. Footage of this series was previewed in 2012, prior to Disney acquiring Lucasfilm. Surprisingly, despite having produced 39 episodes, “Star Wars Detours” has yet to be released publicly.

Developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Animation, Seth Green, and Matthew Senreich, Star Wars Detours boasted a stellar cast of voices for its characters. Among them were the return of Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks, Anthony Daniels reprising his role as C-3PO, Seth Green voicing Obi-Wan Kenobi, Billy Dee Williams lending his voice to Lando Calrissian, “Weird Al” Yankovic portraying 4-LOM, and Seth MacFarlane stepping into the shoes of Emperor Palpatine. This venture aimed to blaze a new trail for the franchise, as Star Wars had not previously ventured into a straight-up comedy series within its canon. While the success of Star Trek: Lower Decks may one day persuade Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni that a comedic interpretation of the saga could be viable, it’s uncertain whether they will take the leap on that front.

Until then, don’t miss out on the comeback of Jar Jar Binks in the four-episode LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy animated series currently available for streaming on Disney+.

Read More

2024-09-16 17:32