Liam Neeson Jokes His Death as Qui-Gon Jinn in ‘The Phantom Menace’ Was ‘A Bit Namby-Pamby’: ‘Please, Hardly a Master Jedi’

Liam Neeson wasn’t a fan of his death in “Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace.”

On a recent episode of GQ’s “Most Iconic Characters,” Neeson, who plays Qui-Gon Jinn in the “Star Wars” prequel, joked that his death in the film was “a bit namby-pamby” and that he thought a Jedi master would fare better in a battle with a Sith lord.

“I thought my death was a bit namby-pamby,” he said. “I’m supposed to be a master Jedi. My character fell for the ‘Oh, I’m going for your face! No, I’m not, I’m going for your stomach.’ ‘Oh, you got me!’ Please, hardly a master Jedi.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Neeson said that on set, “Star Wars” mastermind George Lucas felt a bit awkward directing actors, and that he preferred to shape the film in the editing bay.

“George doesn’t like directing. Period. He told me that,” Neeson explained. “He’d finish a scene, he’d say, ‘Natalie, a little bit faster. Liam, a little bit faster there.’ editing suite afterwards, that’s when he starts enjoying the process. But actually directing actors and stuff, he told me he doesn’t like it.”

Neeson trades his light saber for a police badge in his latest flick, “The Naked Gun,” which is in theaters now. The Paramount reboot sees a typically brooding Neeson in the role of Detective Frank Drebin Jr., who must solve a murder to keep the Police Squad from shutting down for good. Other cast members include Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder and Kevin Durand.