Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks in The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, discusses his experience on set, the controversy surrounding the character, and his own ideas on the Yoda lightsaber battle. He addresses rumors of severe burns and beating out Michael Jackson for a role. Plus, stay tuned for a preview of Matt's upcoming podcast series 'The Complete Man.'
Ahmed Best wanted a more definitive ending for the character of Jar Jar Binks after Revenge of the Sith.
Ahmed Best shares his involvement in creating and choreographing Yoda's fight scene in Attack of the Clones.
Ahmed Best discusses his experience of getting cast as Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and the camaraderie on set with Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor.
Deep dives
Ahmed Best's Experience with Jar Jar Binks
Ahmed Best discusses his experience playing Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. He talks about his love for Star Wars as a fan before being cast in the role and his excitement about being part of the franchise. Ahmed also shares that Michael Jackson campaigned for the role of Jar Jar Binks, but George Lucas decided against casting him due to concerns about jeopardizing the film. Ahmed recalls meeting Michael Jackson backstage at a concert and describes the surreal experience of seeing him perform in front of 80,000 fans.
The Importance of Closure for Jar Jar Binks
Ahmed Best expresses his desire for a more definitive ending for the character of Jar Jar Binks. He mentions that after Revenge of the Sith, the character's storyline became vague and he wanted a stronger resolution. Ahmed discusses the fan theory of Darth Jar Jar and how fans have wanted a redemption arc or closure for the character. He reflects on the impact and significance of playing a pioneering role in performance art and technology that changed the movie industry.
Ahmed Best's Involvement in Yoda's Fight Scene
Ahmed Best shares his involvement in creating and choreographing Yoda's fight scene in Attack of the Clones. He explains that the original idea was for Yoda to move and flip as the lightsaber fought Dooku, with the lightsaber being manipulated by the Force. However, George Lucas wanted Yoda to hold the lightsaber, and Ahmed collaborated with Rob Coleman and the animation team at ILM to create the memorable fight scene. Ahmed describes the excitement of watching the performance capture technology progress and seeing the final result on screen.
Podcasting Journey and Role as Jar Jar Binks
In this podcast episode, Ahmed Best shares his experience of getting cast as Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. He talks about receiving the call for the role, going to England for costume fittings, and developing the voice for the character. Ahmed discusses the camaraderie on set with Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, as well as his initial nervousness and how Liam helped him feel more at ease. He also opens up about his involvement in the creation of Yoda's lightsaber battle.
Current Projects and Future Plans
In addition to acting, Ahmed Best is now focusing on writing, directing, and executive producing. He announces his upcoming podcast called 'The Afro-Futurist' that will explore the future from the perspective of black and brown people. Ahmed also discusses his talk show, 'Dinner at Lola', featuring conversations with actors and creators in the industry. Furthermore, he reveals plans for a live sketch comedy show called 'Your Big Day' which will blend improv and sketch comedy. With these ventures, Ahmed aims to stay busy by creating and collaborating with talented individuals.
Actor Ahmed Best joins Matt for a jumbo sized episode of I Was There Too to discuss playing Jar Jar Binks in The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. Recorded live from Largo at the Coronet as well as the Earwolf studio, Ahmed tells us about the many stand in roles he played during the filming of the films, being pulled from the cast of Stomp in San Francisco, and contributing his own ideas on what the iconic Yoda lightsaber battle should look like purely as a fan of Star Wars. Plus, we find out if Ahmed really suffered severe burns from hot tea being spilled on his lap and if he really beat out Michael Jackson in a role during Confirm or Dispel Dubious IMDB Trivia. Stay tuned after the interview for a preview for an upcoming podcast mini-series by Matt entitled ‘The Complete Man,’ a spin-off of Amanda Lund’s brilliant podcast ‘The Complete Woman.’ Find it on Stitcher Premium.This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: WASTHERE) and Audible (www.audible.com/wasthere).
