CHARACTERS - Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi + Darth Maul
Qui-Gon Jinn A Jedi Master who failed to
join the esteemed Jedi Council due to his recalsitrant nature. Wise but head-strong, he
took Obi-Wan Kenobi as his Padawan learner. After being sent by Chancellor Valorum to
settle a trade dispute , Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan discovered more sinister forces at work. They
helped the people of Naboo and their queen, Amidala, to fight and destroy the evil Trade
Federation. On their way, they visited Tatooine where they came across Anakin Skywalker.
Qui-Gon was convinced the boy was "The Chosen One" and took him back to the Jedi
Council to ask if he could be trained as a Jedi. But before that could happen
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan met the evil Darth Maul and Qui-Gon was destroyed.
Liam Neeson OBE Father-of-two Neeson, who is married to actress Natasha Richardson, has appeared in numerous well-known films, including Schindler's List, Michael Collins, Rob Roy and The Haunting. Born in Ireland he worked as a forklift driver, assistant architect an even a boxer. Neeson originally wanted to be a teacher and went to Queens College in Belfast.
But in 1976, Neeson joined the Belfast Lyric Players' Theater and made his acting debut in the play "The Risen People". After later moving toDublin's Abbey Theater he was spotted by director John Boorman and cast in the 1981 film Excalibur, which dealt with the Arthurian legend. However things did not take off quickly for the young Neeson and it was not until nine years later in Darkment that he would have a lead role again. Further critically acclaimed apperances led to him being cast as Oskar Schindler in Spielberg's Schindler's List. Neeson was nominated for an Oscar as a result of playing Oskar.
He made headlines in 1998 when he brought a successful libel action against a national newspaper which had wrongly claimed his marriage was on the rocks. Before getting married he had several glamerous partners, including Sinhead O'Connor, Brooke Shields, Helen Mirren and Julia Robers.
TRIVIA: He made the headlines after criticising his hometown in Ireland for its political problems and said it made him feel like a second class citizen while growing up.
On the set of The Phantom Menace the crew had to spend over $100,000 raising the level of the sets, as the 6ft 5ins actor towered over them.
Obi-Wan
Kenobi Trained as a Jedi Knight by Qui-Gon Jinn he initially helped at
the Battle of Naboo to defeat the Trade Federation. He watched as his mentor Qui-Gon was
struck down by Darth Maul and then, consumed with rage, he sliced Maul in two.
He went on to fight in the Clone Wars with Anakin Skywalker, who he helped train, and watched as Anakin fell in love with Amidala. However Anakin turned to the dark side and in a desperate attempt to stop him, Obi-Wan fought Anakin on the top of a volcano. Obi-Wan won again and Anakin was forced to wear life support equipment for the rest of his life, which he lived out as the evil Darth Vader.
Obi-Wan lived in exile on Tatooine, supposeduly ashamed at losing Anakin to the Dark Side of the Force, but when a droid called R2-D2 found him, he helped the rebels again. Obi-Wan found smuggler Han Solo and Chewbacca in a Mos Eisley bar and, together with Luke Skywalker, flew to try and give stolen data tapes to the rebels on Alderan.
That plan was scupered when Alderan was blown up by the Empire and the gang was brought on board the Death Star. Obi-Wan left the others to turn off a tractor beam so they could escape later.
He also used that opportunity to confornt Vader, and give the others a chance to flee. He fought bravely but knew he was no match for the younger Vader. He told Vader: "If you strike me down I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine". Vader did strike him down and Obi-Wan mysteriously vanished. All was not gone though as he helped Luke find his way to Dagobah to be trained by Jedi Master Yoda and was by Luke's side throughout his adventures.
Ewan McGregor Before The Phantom Meance McGregor was best known in Star Wars circles for being the nephew of Denis Lawson, who was in the original Star Wars. After being cast as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi though, all that changed. McGregor studied old tapes of Sir Alec Guinness to try to get the distinctive voice needed for the part.
McGregor is famous for never slowing down and has appeared in several British hit films, inclduing Trainspotting, Shallow Grave and Brassed Off.
He met his wife while filming Kavanash QC and they have one daughter.
TRVIA: Ewan had to be reminded not to make swishing noises when filming his lightsaber duels.
His uncle is Dennis Lawson, who played Wedge in Star Wars.
Darth Maul Little is known about this mysterious Sith apprentice. Under the wing of Darth Sidious, Maul trained and became an expert in the Jedi arts. Sidious sent him to Tatooine to track down and destroy two Jedi Knights but he failed to do so. When he returned to the recenly-invaded Naboo he found them again and this time killed Qui-Gon Jinn. He thought he had beaten Obi-Wan Kenobi too but as he was about to send him down an energy pit Obi-Wan leapt up and sliced the fiend in two.
Ray
Park Originally Ray Park wasn't meant to be a main feature of the film
at all, he was just the stunt man. But when it became clear just how much Maul was a
physical character Lucas decided to keep him for all the scenes.
Park is a martial arts expert, born in Scotland and now living in Finsbury Park, London. Maul's voice was provided by Liverpudlian actor Peter Serafinowicz. Maul had more than his nine minutes of screen time at first, but as his lines had to be dubbed over many of his scenes were edited out.
Park has since appeared in Sleepy Hollow as the sword-wielding headless horseman and will be in The X-Men Movie.