Liam Neeson's Candid Take on Star Wars' Expansion: Why He's Not a Fan
Liam Neeson, renowned for his role as Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn, voices his discontent with the expanding Star Wars universe Delve into Neeson's argument and explore whether he has a valid point
Summary
Liam Neeson believes that the Star Wars franchise has gone too far with its numerous movies and spinoffs, diluting the overall story and experience.
The impact of a Star Wars movie or TV show on the franchise depends largely on the specific content, as certain spinoffs and TV shows have successfully ventured into fresh and thrilling directions. Nevertheless, the constant stream of new Star Wars content, especially with the involvement of Disney Plus, has diminished the sense of significance and specialness surrounding each new project, irrespective of its quality.
Star Wars star Liam Neeson expresses his candid opinion on the vastness of the franchise, firmly stating that he believes it has exceeded its limits. Originating in 1977 with A New Hope, the Star Wars franchise now encompasses nearly twelve live-action films along with numerous TV shows. Neeson portrayed Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 1999, later lending his voice to the character in various animated series and making a cameo in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In a recent interview on the Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend podcast (via Team Coco), Neeson discusses the extensive expansion of the Star Wars universe and voices his criticism towards its state of overextension.
The actor's criticism is not extensively explained, but it is evident that he believes Star Wars was better when there were fewer projects. Read Neeson's complete comment below:
"With the abundance of movies and spinoffs nowadays, I believe it is diluting the overall essence. That's just my personal opinion."
Does Liam Neeson Have A Point About Star Wars?
When Neeson took on the role of Qui-Gon in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the franchise consisted of three movies, a holiday special, and two short-lived animated TV shows. However, things have changed significantly since then. Currently, there are 11 live-action films, numerous animated series, and a growing collection of live-action Disney+ shows. Disney has also announced that they have several new movies and shows in the works.
Neeson makes a valid point about how Star Wars releases used to be highly anticipated events. However, with the popularity of Disney Plus and the constant flow of new content, it has become more commonplace. Ultimately, whether a new piece of content adds to or diminishes the franchise depends on the individual project itself.
The Mandalorian, for instance, has proven to be a massive success on Disney Plus, while Andor has generated significant buzz within the Star Wars community. On the other hand, The Book of Boba Fett can be seen as an optional inclusion. Regardless of quality, though, the abundance of new Star Wars releases has undeniably diminished the novelty of each new project, a trend that will continue with the numerous movies and TV shows on the horizon.
