Jar Jar Binks the Sith? All the In-Universe Evidence and Lucas’s Original Vision

When it comes to wild Star Wars theories, few have gained as much curious traction as the idea that Jar Jar Binks might secretly be a Sith Lord. At first glance, it sounds ridiculous – he’s clumsy, annoying, and often treated as comic relief. But the more you look into it, the more suspicious his role in the prequel trilogy becomes.

Let’s break down the in-universe signs that Jar Jar may have been hiding a darker secret all along.

Clumsiness Might Be an Act – Just Like Yoda’s

On the surface, Jar Jar appears to be an incompetent outcast from Naboo who somehow stumbles into galactic politics. He trips over himself, causes chaos in every room he enters, and gets mocked by both Jedi and fellow Gungans. But despite his buffoonery, he always seems to land on his feet – especially during battles or moments of danger.

During the Battle of Naboo, for example, he manages to take out several battle droids without even knowing what he’s doing. His “accidents” conveniently turn into successful maneuvers. It mirrors how Yoda first acted like a giggling hermit to hide his Jedi identity from Luke. Jar Jar may have been doing the same thing – except from the opposite side of the Force.

His Movements and Gestures Resemble Hidden Force Powers

Throughout the prequels, Jar Jar performs acrobatic feats and gravity-defying jumps that seem out of place for someone portrayed as uncoordinated. One moment in The Phantom Menace even shows Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon pausing when they witness him leap unusually far – something that draws more attention on rewatch.

But it’s not just his physicality. When Jar Jar tries to convince others, especially in key political scenes, he gestures with his hands in a way that mirrors Jedi mind tricks. The most notable example is when he persuades the Senate to grant emergency powers to Chancellor Palpatine. The way he moves and speaks feels eerily similar to a Force user influencing others.

Jar Jar Played a Crucial Role in Palpatine’s Rise

Even if Jar Jar wasn’t a Sith, his political actions directly benefited them – most notably when he proposed the motion that gave Palpatine emergency powers. That single act fast-tracked Palpatine’s transformation from Chancellor to Emperor, setting the Republic on a path toward dictatorship.

What makes this more suspicious is how Jar Jar, a junior representative with no political experience, was even given that level of influence in the Senate. From being exiled by his people to speaking for Naboo, the jump is massive. It’s possible that Palpatine positioned Jar Jar where he needed him – either as a puppet or as a willing participant.

He Tried to Make Amends After the Empire Fell

After the fall of the Empire, Jar Jar disappears from the public eye. According to canon material – Aftermath: Empire’s End, he returns to Naboo and becomes a street performer. Adults avoid him, blaming him for the Empire’s rise, while children still enjoy his antics.

This quiet, tragic ending suggests a man who carries guilt. Much like other fallen characters – like Revan or even Darth Vader – Jar Jar may have realized the consequences of his role and tried to make amends in the only way he could: entertaining and helping those who still accepted him.

This Was All Part of George Lucas’ Original Plan

Despite all the strange coincidences and plot twists surrounding Jar Jar Binks, there’s still no official confirmation in canon that he was ever meant to be a Sith Lord. However, some early behind-the-scenes details about his creation have added fuel to the theory.

Reportedly, George Lucas once said that Jar Jar was originally supposed to be an undercover Sith. The idea was that – much like how Yoda first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back as a quirky, harmless creature – Jar Jar would hide behind a mask of foolishness to avoid suspicion. Instead of being a Jedi in hiding, he would be a Sith spy embedded deep within the Republic.

Even though this claim has never been confirmed in any official script or production notes, it might help explain some of Jar Jar’s more bizarre moments throughout the prequels. His sudden political rise, his connections to both the Jedi and Palpatine, and his key role in granting emergency powers all fit with this kind of secret identity.

Some fans even took this theory a step further, speculating that Jar Jar might have been Darth Plagueis himself – the Sith Master who taught Palpatine.

Still, despite all the speculation, Lucasfilm and Disney continue to treat Jar Jar Binks as nothing more than a clumsy, well-meaning Gungan. No canon material to date confirms any Sith ties, but the idea that he was meant to be something more – at least during early development – remains one of the most talked-about “what ifs” in the entire franchise.