What Qui-Gon's Role Will Be In 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Series
One of the highlights of the Phantom Menace is the performance of Liam Neeson as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. His stern and confident demeanor, paired with his paternal wisdom in dealing with those in his care, give the impression of a sage samurai. He's also extremely wise in the Force, seeing past the dogma of the Jedi Order and understanding the true nature of the Living and Cosmic Force. He was also the first Jedi to discover the secret to preserving consciousness beyond death. After he was struck down by Darth Maul during the Battle of Naboo, Qui-Gon returned in The Clone Wars, appearing to Obi-Wan on Mortis and guiding Yoda to Dagobah, starting the Grand Master down his own path to immortality.
Liam Neeson's return in Obi-Wan Kenobi as the Jedi Master, Jinn, is in no way confirmed of course, but he is a character that the fanbase is anxious to see more of. Neeson has also expressed interest in returning for Kenobi, saying that he'd be "up for it." Lucasfilm has already demonstrated their willingness to bring back characters, whether for story or fan-service sake is up for debate. Given the way Revenge of the Sith ended, with Obi-Wan in exile on Tatooine, watching over the infant Luke Skywalker, and learning how to commune with the dead Qui-Gon, it is inevitable that there be references and dialogue about Obi-Wan's fallen master. It would be a short step, in production terms, from these necessary story elements to including Liam Neeson in the cast for the highly anticipated show, and the response from the fans would be overwhelmingly positive.
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If Qui-Gon Jinn does return to council, teach, and encourage Kenobi, it could occur in a number of ways. The first role that comes to mind is that of Obi-Wan himself in A New Hope. Old Ben Kenobi, after being struck down by Darth Vader, urges Luke to run, speaking in a disembodied voice. Later, during the attack run on the Death Star, Kenobi once again speaks to Luke from the great beyond, urging him to "use the Force Luke." If Obi-Wan has managed to make contact with Jinn in the decade since Yoda assigned him this training, it would make sense for the "master and apprentice" dynamic to return, with Qui-Gon guiding Obi-Wan to preserving his consciousness, while advising and assisting Kenobi in high pressure situations. With Vader and several Inquisitors on his tail, there is sure to be ample opportunity for Obi-Wan to call upon Jinn's wisdom.
As Jinn was the first Jedi to learn the mysteries of the Whills, fans may expect Neeson to appear in a Force Ghost manifestation. While this is still possible, perhaps while Obi-Wan is in a meditative state, Jinn does say in Clone Wars that he was unable to learn enough about the Force to manifest himself into a Force Ghost. He does physically appear to Obi-Wan on Mortis however, and if Kenobi were to delve into some of the mysteries of the Force, like many viewers expect the series to, Jinn could appear "in the flesh."
While flashbacks are certainly not out of the question, and the casting of Hayden Christensen and recent history of Book of Boba Fett even make them likely, the more dynamic and engaging interactions between master and apprentice would be post-Order 66. How would Qui-Gon react to Anakin's fall to the dark side? Would Obi-Wan blame his master for bringing the youngling into the fold all those years ago on Tatooine? Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson are both stellar actors and seeing a confrontation between the two, after the fall of the Jedi Order and the loss of everything both of them have ever known, could be an excellent opportunity for the series and Star Wars as a whole.
Obi-Wan Kenobi premiers May 25th and is possibly the most anticipated Star Wars project since Force Awakens. Expectations are high for the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the original Jedi Knight. There is no doubt that Ewan McGregor will bring his A-game to this role, as he is just as excited about his return to Star Wars as the fans are. The inclusion of Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn in the series would be a homerun in the eyes of the vast majority of the fanbase, and a critical story element for others. Hopefully, Liam Neeson gets an opportunity to once again bring the stoic gravitas of Qui-Gon Jinn to new Star Wars stories.
