We’ve all noticed it—Star Wars has taken a major turn from epic movie releases to constant TV series and streaming projects.
While some, like The Mandalorian, have hit the mark with fans, others haven’t quite captured the magic (The Acolyte or Obi-Wan Kenobi, anyone?).
Liam Neeson, the actor behind Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace, recently weighed in on this trend.
For him, all these spinoffs might be pulling back the curtain a little too far, stripping away the mystery and magic that once made Star Wars feel larger-than-life.
Qui-Gon Jinn’s Legacy and Neeson’s Brief Return
Neeson voiced his thoughts during a 2023 interview on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where he commented that Star Wars’s charm has been diluted by so many side stories and character-specific series.
In his words, “It’s taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way.”
Neeson believes that by constantly expanding, Star Wars risks losing the element of mystery that kept fans so captivated in the first place.
When every side character gets a backstory and every open-ended moment is explained, it starts to feel like there’s little left to wonder about.
For fans of Qui-Gon, seeing Neeson return in Obi-Wan Kenobi for a cameo brought a sense of closure to his character. But while fans might have hoped for even more appearances, Neeson himself seems wary of participating in any further spin-offs.
His role in The Phantom Menace left an impactful mark—one that he feels might lose its strength if revisited too frequently.
Neeson’s belief is that part of Star Wars’s success came from that feeling of otherworldly mystery that surrounded each character and the vast unknowns of the galaxy.
There’s no doubt that the Star Wars franchise thrives on nostalgia, and for many, these spinoffs are a chance to experience the beloved galaxy in even more depth.
However, there’s a question of balance. By filling in every blank, are we losing the beauty of wondering about what we don’t know?
Star Wars has always thrived on that blend of lore and mystery, inviting fans to imagine what’s happening beyond the screen or in the next part of the galaxy.
Neeson’s thoughts have hit home for a lot of Star Wars fans who also feel that the franchise is being pulled in too many directions.
Some love that we’re getting to see the story unfold from every angle, while others feel that not every character or subplot needs its own series.