Jar Jar Actor Spills the Secrets Behind Creating the Infamous Character with George Lucas

Summary

Ahmed Best reveals George Lucas' collaborative approach in creating Jar Jar Binks, allowing the actor to have input and even change the character's direction.

Lucas' strong vision for the Star Wars prequel trilogy was complemented by his willingness to invite others to add their input and help shape the story, demonstrating his openness as a director.

Although Best faced criticism for his portrayal of Jar Jar Binks, it is comforting to learn that he will be making a comeback in The Mandalorian season 3, this time as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq.

Actor Ahmed Best, who portrayed Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, recently disclosed the truly "collaborative" approach taken by George Lucas in creating the Gungan sidekick. Despite Lucas's enormous influence as the creator of Star Wars, Best revealed that Lucas welcomed input and suggestions from the actors. During auditions, after initially providing specific instructions, Lucas ultimately allowed Best to explore and improvise, even altering his initial plans based on the actor's performance. Best described the experience as surreal, emphasizing the collaborative and flexible nature of the Star Wars production process.

George Lucas Was Willing To Let Others Become Part Of His Vision

This showcases the true collaborative nature of George Lucas as a director. While Lucas had a clear creative vision for the story, he was open to contributions from others. Originally, Jar Jar Binks was meant to be portrayed as someone worn down by the hardships of life, but Ahmed Best's portrayal convinced Lucas to take a different approach. Best not only played Jar Jar physically, but also created the character's voice. This kind of collaborative filmmaking is truly inspiring, as Lucas welcomed others to help shape the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, Best's character received a negative reception, which had a significant impact on his mental health, as discussed in the podcast. However, despite the challenges, Best remains a fan and was recently brought back to play Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian season 3, which can be seen as a sort of apology from Star Wars.