Star Wars is a long-running sci-fi franchise with many films, TV series, and video games to back it up. Beginning the franchise with Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope in 1977, the film was expected to be a stand-alone film and was originally just marketed as Star Wars. But thanks to the extreme success of A New Hope, George Lucas expanded the film and created the Original Trilogy. The trilogy’s popularity led to a Prequel Trilogy being made from 1999 to 2005 and an eventual Sequel Trilogy from 2015 to 2019. Now, Lucasfilm is looking to develop a new trilogy set after Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.
The Prequel Trilogy consisted of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Episode II - The Attack of the Clones, and Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. These movies introduced a new cast of actors playing either, in some cases, younger versions of beloved characters from the Original Trilogy, or entirely new characters altogether. For many of these actors, like Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, and Natalie Portman, the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy launched their careers to new heights. Here’s where they are today.
Hayden Christensen
Lucasfilm
Playing the role of a grown-up Anakin Skywalker who eventually becomes Darth Vader is Hayden Christensen. This Canadian actor appeared in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith as Anakin, who, during this time, walks the line between the Light and the Dark Side of the Force before giving in to the Dark Side in order to prevent Padmé from dying. While Christensen has acted in a number of things since the Prequel Trilogy, including the Edie Sedgwick biopic Factory Girl, he took a step back from the business, going so far as to buy a farm in Ontario and devoting much of his time to learning about farming. That said, Christensen is set to reprise his role as the Sith Lord in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Disney+ series.
Jake Lloyd
Probably the least recognizable of the cast of The Phantom Menace is Jake Lloyd, the child actor who played a young Anakin at the age of ten. Lloyd’s filmography is limited, with his only major role being his presence in Phantom Menace. According to Giant Freakin Robot, Lloyd’s career faded away as his acting came to an abrupt halt in 2001 due to the extreme bullying he received for the film’s poor performance. This eventually led Lloyd to leave Hollywood for Chicago in 2012, where he briefly studied psychology. Lloyd has been in the media for a number of arrests related to assault and reckless driving, much of this being in part to his schizophrenia diagnosis and not taking his medication, leading to his admission into a psychiatric facility. In January 2020, his family revealed his official diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman made her debut in Léon: The Professional before moving on to be cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. Portman has since gained a marvelous reputation in Hollywood, even winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Black Swan. Portman’s career has flourished over the years, even being cast as First Lady Jackie Kennedy in the biopic Jackie. Since her character was killed off in Revenge of the Sith, it’s clear that we won’t be seeing her in any new Star Wars ventures. That said, we can expect to see Portman become Mighty Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder set to be released in July 2022.
Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor received global recognition for his performance in Trainspotting, which earned him the role of Obi-Wan in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. Since, McGregor went on to star in a number of hit films including Moulin Rouge! and more recently Doctor Sleep. McGregor’s performance throughout the trilogy saved much of it from disaster, as he embodied the character so well that it’s impossible to imagine anyone but McGregor in the role. McGregor is now set to reprise his role as Obi-Wan in the Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi. On top of this, he is lined up to play Sebastian J. Cricket in Guillermo del Toro’s iteration of Pinocchio.
Samuel L. Jackson
20th Century Fox
Samuel L. Jackson is a Hollywood vet with enough influence to request that his lightsaber be purple for his character Mace Windu. Jackson already had a huge standing in Hollywood before his appearance in the Star Wars prequels, thanks to his performances in films like Pulp Fiction, Jurassic Park, and Menace II Society. With decades of acting experience, Samuel L. Jackson brought a presence to Mace Windu. Jackson went on to play the role of Nick Fury in the MCU, starring in 11 MCU films. Most recently, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored Jackson with an Honorary Governors Award.
Liam Neeson
Next to Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon Jinn is the most beloved character of the Star War Prequel Trilogy, portrayed by Liam Neeson. He is the one who discovers Anakin on Tatooine and insists that he is the Chosen One whom the prophecy foretold would bring balance to the force. Qui-Gon’s death broke the heart of not only Obi-Wan, but of audience members everywhere. Neeson went on to star in Batman Begins and made a name for himself in the Taken franchise. Neeson has starred in the films Blacklight and Memory and is currently shooting Retribution and Marlowe. Despite his decades on-screen, his career shows no signs of slowing down.
Ian McDiarmid
Appearing in seven of the nine films of the entire Star Wars saga is Ian McDiarmid as Sheev Palpatine. This much-hated villain is responsible for the near-extinction of the Jedi and the deaths of thousands, all for his own lust for power. McDiarmid first starred as Emperor Palpatine in the original Star Wars trilogy before returning as a Senator, and eventually Chancellor of the Senate, on his quest for power. McDiarmid’s past performances on stage have earned him an Olivier Award for Best Actor and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. McDiarmid’s career has since slowed, with his most recent performance being the voice of Emperor Palpatine in various Star Wars media.
Ahmed Best
One of the most hated characters in the Star Wars universe is the clueless Gungan Jar Jar Binks, played by Ahmed Best. Being his breakout role as a voice actor, Best has done little else, with his last performance in a film being in W.M.D. The hatred for the character often bled over onto Best, leading to extreme amounts of bullying, which, in turn, led Best to consider suicide. Most recently, Best starred as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, a web-based children’s game show that aired in 2020.
