What happened to the cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace since 1999? Where are they now? In celebration of Star Wars: Phantom Menace's 25th anniversary, fans will get to rewatch the entire Skywalker Saga in theaters this May.
Where Are the Original Cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 2024?
As fans reminisce about the first chapter of the Skywalker saga, here's where the cast is, as of 2024!
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
Initially starring as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in 1999's Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Liam Neeson later became involved in several projects in the franchise.
Moving past being best known for his action flicks like Taken, Neeson lent his voice in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker and Tales of the Jedi to reprise his role.
Neeson's most recent film as of writing is starring as the retired assassin in In the Land of Saints and Sinners, which has topped the Netflix film charts as of April 29.
Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Apart from playing Qui-Gon's apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ewan McGregor scored in the following films of the prequel trilogy as well as gaining his own Disney+ miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in 2022.
McGregor has also starred in the likes of 2018's live-action flick Christopher Robin, in DC's Birds of Prey, and as of present, as Alexander Rostov in the 2024 mini-series A Gentleman in Moscow.
Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker
Jake Lloyd was the younger Anakin Skywalker who became the future villain Darth Vader in the franchise.
Though he reprised his role in a couple of Star Wars video games in the early 2000s, he was recently reported to explain his sudden appearance all these years. He had encountered mental health problems after shooting for the franchise when he was eight years old.
Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala
Of course, who could forget Natalie Portman, whose Padmé Amidala role remains one of the most iconic franchise stars?
After her Star Wars gig, she went on to play the role of Jane Foster in the Thor Trilogy and later on became The Mighty Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder. As of writing, her most recent role is playing Elizabeth in 2023's May December.
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
Anthony Daniels reprised his droid character, C-3PO, across future Star Wars projects, including Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker. In recent years, Daniels reprised C-3PO in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, and other LEGO Star Wars series.
Kenny Baker as R2-D2
The original actor Kenny Baker, who portrayed the droid R2-D2 in The Phantom Menace returned in The Force Awakens as an R2 consultant. He unfortunately died at the age of 81 in 2016.
Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu
Star Wars' Mace Windu, Samuel L. Jackson, went on to share his talent in another major Hollywood franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nick Fury.
Aside from being the glue that holds the most crucial flicks within the MCU, Nick Fury gained his own series, Secret Invasion, in 2023, where we uncover more about the secretive life of the prominent S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine
Ian McDiarmid is one of the few Star Wars veterans who still gets to lend his voice to a couple more Lucasfilm projects.
McDiarmid reprised his role as Emperor Palpatine in other platforms such as in 2018's Star Wars: Rebels, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and most recently, Star Wars: The Bad Batch. In Tales of the Jedi, the actor voiced Darth Sidious.
Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks
Similar to McDiarmid's work, Ahmed Best still returns to the Star Wars franchise to play other roles within the galaxy far, far away.
Ahmed reprised his role as Jar Jar Binks in the parody Robot Chicken: Star Wars and played the role of Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in Jedi Temple Challenge and The Mandalorian.
READ NEXT: Star Wars: Tales of the Empire Trailer Features Darth Vader's Return
For more Star Wars news and explainer articles, check out more right here on Epicstream!