Liam Neeson reveals he believed his Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace co-star Ahmed Best could have been the next Eddie Murphy. In The Phantom Menace, Best had a key supporting role as Jar Jar Binks and was meant to be the film's comic relief. Unfortunately, the character was one of the most widely-criticized aspects of The Phantom Menace. While Jar Jar appealed to younger viewers, longtime Star Wars fans that grew up on the original trilogy hated the Gungan due to his cartoony, over-the-top antics. Some even believed Jar Jar was a racist caricature. All of the backlash led to Jar Jar having a very diminished role in the following two prequels.
Alongside young Jake Lloyd (who played Anakin Skywalker), Best received a brunt of the criticism and became something of a poster boy for The Phantom Menace's flaws. That was difficult for the actor to deal with, and Best contemplated committing suicide due to the response. In recent years, however, Best has become a beloved figure in the Star Wars community and early Phantom Menace critics have expressed regret over how Best was treated. It makes one wonder what Best's career trajectory might have been had Jar Jar been better received, and Neeson had high hopes for his co-star.
In an interview with Radio Andy, Neeson discussed his time working on The Phantom Menace, saying he's proud of the movie. He also took the time to offer praise for Best, stating he felt Best was poised to be the next Eddie Murphy, "And I still believe that."
"He came into a lot of criticism, I mean to the point where it really hurt his career. And I have to say when I was making that film … he was probably one of the funniest guys and talented guys I have ever worked with."
It isn't surprising to see Neeson defend Best, but the Murphy comparison is still eye-catching. Murphy skyrocketed to superstardom in the 1980s, thanks to his stand-up comedy routines and tenure on Saturday Night Live. He then went on to headline box office hits like 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop, becoming one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. That Neeson envisioned that kind of success for Best speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication Best brought to the Phantom Menace set during the shoot. Neeson watched Best firsthand and clearly felt the up-and-comer had a breakout role with Jar Jar, but sadly Best's career went in the opposite direction.
The opportunity for Best to cement himself as the next Eddie Murphy has likely passed, but he still could have a renaissance now that he's in a much better place than he was in 1999 after The Phantom Menace. Not only has Best's work as Jar Jar been recognized for helping pioneer CGI characters omnipresent in blockbusters today, he's still involved with Star Wars by hosting Jedi Temple Challenge as Kelleran Beq. He's even open to returning as Jar Jar in a future project, depending on the story's quality. Should that come into fruition, it'd definitely put Best back in the spotlight and possibly give his career a new lease on lift. Regardless, Best seems to be fully enjoying life now, which is what truly matters.
Source: Radio Andy