Liam Neeson Says He and Ewan McGregor Were Scolded on 'Star Wars' Set for Making Lightsaber Noises

“George [Lucas] said: ‘Let’s cut there. Guys, we can add it later,’ Neeson recalled

Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor were full of character on set in 1999 Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.

In an interview with Conan O’Brien for Conan O’Brien needs a friend podcast (recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike), the 71-year-old actor recalled how he and McGregor, 52, “automatically” started making lightsaber noises the first time they drew their intergalactic weapons for a scene on set.

“George [Lucas] said, ‘Uh, let’s stop there. Guys, we can add it later,’ Neeson joked.

Of his and McGregor’s responses, the actor recalled, ” ‘Yeah, sure. We knew that’ ” before mimicking holstering a lightsaber.

“That’s ridiculous. I wish they’d left it in – wouldn’t that be so great?” said O’Brien, 60, himself mimicking lightsaber sounds and combat gestures. “You two are just spitting on each other. That would be so, so funny.”

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Enter Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999).

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Neeson played Qui-Gon Jinn, the mentor of McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, in The Phantom Menaceand later appeared as a character in episodic voices Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Qui-Gon died at the end The Phantom Menace in a duel with the Sith apprentice Darth Maul (Ray Park). Before dying, Qui-Gon made Obi-Wan promise to take Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd as a child and, later, Hayden Christensen as an adult) as a Jedi apprentice.

Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson for Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999).

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In an interview with collider released in January 2021, Neeson was surprised to be told that fans of the film franchise are still itching for him to return as his popular Jedi character.

“I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t heard that at all,” the actor said of whether he’s aware fans want him to return to the beloved role.

When asked if he would ever consider a miniseries for the character, Neeson said, “Of course I would, but I wonder if Star Wars is starting to disappear from the cinema landscape, what do you think?”

After hearing about McGregor’s then-upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+, he added, “Oh, so they’re kind of a spinoff, right?” before smiling and adding, “I’d be up for it! Yes.”

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Source: HIS Education