Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is celebrating its 25th anniversary through new prequel merchandise, rereleasing the movies in theaters, and the latest- a tribute from Jar Jar Binks actor, Ahmed Best. According to Comicbook.com, Best said “Thank you to all the Jar Jar fans. 25 years ago, you were the young people that always showed me love.” 

The fans’ support of the character meant a lot to Best given the almost immediate backlash the character received for his goofy and exuberant demeanor, most feeling he was a distraction from the major themes in the film. Best said that the backlash and harassment followed him and his professional life for years- the insults taking a deep toll on his mental wellbeing.   

Best also talked about his favorite scene to film- citing the scene in the submarine when Jar Jar, Qui Gon Jin, and a young Kenobi travel to the underwater Gungan palace. Specifically how ridiculous filming the actual scene was in terms of what was kept on-screen. All the actors found some of Jar Jar’s lines hilarious, as well as the things that weren’t supposed to happen like beards that could not stay on. 

 

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Last month, Best proposed during an interview “a Jedi John Wick as Kelleran Beq,” a character he portrayed in Jedi Temple Challenge and Star Wars: The Mandalorian, when asked what he would want to do in future Star Wars projects. He pitched using Filipino arts and its deep history to uniquely portray Filipino fights against colonizers through a Jedi lens.