Liam Neeson Confesses To Funniest Thing He Did Making Star Wars Prequel
Star Wars is probably one of the most recognizable franchises in the known universe. It started out as a release that caters to a niche audience with futuristic and fantastical themes, but its universal appeal quickly turned Star Wars from “nerds’ favorite” into a global cultural phenomenon. In his recent interview, actor Liam Neeson confessed to having done the funniest thing on a Star Wars set, which basically speaks that even Hollywood greats have an inner 5-year-old with a flashlight.
Liam Neeson admitted to Conan O’Brien that he did what everyone would do and made the classic lightsaber “vwoom, vwoom” noise while filming Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
In his recent interview with Conan O’Brien on Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast, Liam Neeson shared the funniest thing he has done on the filming set of 1999’s Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. According to the actor himself, during the filming of a scene, both he and Ewan McGregor, portraying Obi-Wan, pulled out their lightsabers and made the iconic “vwoom, vwoom” noises associated with the weapon—to which George Lucas called “cut,” stating that the noises will be added in post-production.
According to Liam Neeson, Star Wars has given birth to way too many movies and spin-offs, with actors believing that Disney is currently diluting the whole franchise.
The scene Liam Neeson might be referring to is the Duel of Fates—one of the most iconic fights in the Star Wars universe—in which Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn and McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi have a lightsaber battle against the Sith Lord Darth Maul (portrayed by Ray Park). The duel takes place towards the end of the movie, and it’s quite well known among Star Wars fans for its choreography, intensity, and tragic outcome that impacts Obi-Wan’s journey in subsequent Star Wars releases.
This isn’t the first time this anecdote has been shared with the public. It has been shared by several people involved with the filming of The Phantom Menace. According to FandomWire, actor Ewan McGregor also revealed that he would get carried away while shooting the scenes and would mimic the lightsaber sounds to get the feel of the scene.
It’s really a good example of how even accomplished Hollywood greats, such as Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, can easily get caught up in the magnificence of the Star Wars universe.
Let’s be honest with ourselves; anyone who ever watched a Star Wars movie toyed with the idea of a lightsaber when holding a flashlight, even if they weren’t charmed with the original film or subsequent releases.
Liam Neeson’s on-set antics should remind everyone that Star Wars is meant to be fun.
Liam Neeson has always been one of the significant actors in the Star Wars franchise, starring in a leading role in the prequel trilogy, and while he mostly talks positively about his time in the films and subsequent appearances, he shared his honest opinions on Conan O’Brien’s podcast.
According to Liam Neeson, Star Wars has given birth to way too many movies and spin-offs, with actors believing that Disney is currently diluting the whole franchise. Admittedly, Disney is known for milking their franchises, even as they approach their retirement age, and Neeson’s statement aligns with the fandom’s sentiment about recent projects now living up to the narrative standards of the original movies. Sure, we got some really good releases, but the mystery-inspired, child-like joy the franchise instilled in sci-fi lovers of all ages is slowly fading away with each subsequent release.
