Love or hate for the Star Wars prequel trilogy falls pretty squarely along generational lines. Notwithstanding, there is usually something about those films that most fans can appreciate. (Darth Maul is certainly something. Fans’ love for Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi is definitely another. In fact, fans may finally be getting a Kenobi stand-alone story, albeit in the form of a miniseries on Disney’s streaming service Disney+.) Regardless of what you liked about the prequels, if you’re indeed a fan, Star Wars Celebration just threw you a big bone. A Phantom Menace panel is coming to Celebration!
It’s hard to believe that Star Wars: Episode I debuted twenty years ago this spring. To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, Star Wars Celebration will hold a Phantom Menace panel on Monday, April 22nd. Powers-that-be made the announcement via the official Celebration Twitter account:
Phantom Menace Panel Comes to Celebration
Sadly (until The Last Jedi, at least), The Phantom Menace is widely regarded as the worst film of the live-action Star Wars franchise. There’s even a making-of documentary that highlights many of the perceived issues with the film. Notwithstanding, the film did bring us Darth Maul and introduced Coruscant into the film canon. Likewise, it also introduced us to Qui-Gon Jinn and a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Those two are even getting their own Claudia Gray novel this year.) The Phantom Menace panel is sure to highlight those positive points.
There’s no word yet on who will appear and participate in the Phantom Menace panel. The big question surrounds Ahmed Best, who portrayed the controversial Jar Jar Binks. He’s spoken up about the depression and near-suicidal thoughts he’d experienced as a result of fan backlash to the character. I’m not sure he’d want to attend and reopen those wounds.
It’s hard to say who will attend, but we hope we’ll see the likes of George Lucas, Ewan McGregor, Ray Park, Anthony Daniels or more to commemorate the film’s twenty-year anniversary.
Stay tuned here to That Hashtag Show for more Star Wars Celebration information and all your Star Wars news!
