It's been rumored Jar Jar Binks will appear in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ streaming show, and he'll also have grown a beard since the last time fans saw him. Often remembered as one of the most ill-received aspects of the Star Wars prequels, Jar Jar Binks was among the first creatures Obi-Wan and his master Qui-Gon encountered when they landed on the surface of Naboo in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and his assistance eventually led him to teaming up with the Jedi on their escape and subsequent adventure to both Tatooine and Coruscant.
Jar Jar's influence didn't stop there, as later on in the Star Wars prequels it's thanks to him the evil Chancellor Palpatine is able to come to power in the first place. For his unknowing assistance to evil, as well as thanks to his goofy, slapstick personality, most fans found it hard to think of the character with anything other than vitriol, and Jar Jar Binks' actor, Ahmed Best, endured far too much criticism from unhappy viewers in the years following the release of the Star Wars prequels.
Now, however, it looks like Jar Jar Binks might be returning to Star Wars after all. According to a report from Making Star Wars, Jar Jar Binks is scheduled to appear in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ show, and the character will also be sporting a beard, presumably to indicate how time has passed. It's rumored Jar Jar and Obi-Wan will spend some time catching up and discussing what they have been up to since the last time they saw each other. Check out the video version of this rumored update below:
If Jar Jar Binks is indeed set to return to the Star Wars universe, it would be a pretty confident move on the behalf of the Obi-Wan Kenobi show's creators, especially since the character was the target of so much ire when he was originally introduced in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. While the addition of a beard to Jar Jar may make him look older, it's doubtful such a cosmetic change will make the character any more intelligent, and since his irritating speech patterns are present throughout all Gungans, it's also unlikely this controversial vocal affectation will be removed.
This isn't to say such an inclusion shouldn't be done, or couldn't work out to be something interesting. A more nuanced, serious take on Jar Jar Binks could be exactly what the character has needed all these years, and The Mandalorian has already proven certain aspects of the Star Wars prequels can be both entertaining and threatening if shown in the proper context. For now, fans will just have to wait and see whether this bearded Jar Jar rumor for Obi-Wan Kenobi's new show turns out to be true, or whether it's just bantha poodoo.
Source: Making Star Wars