The Mandalorian season 3 introduced a classic star in a new(ish) role, much to the delight of fans, but how did this end up happening?
A new bit of behind-the-scenes info from the beloved Star Wars series The Mandalorian on Disney Plus has shed new light on the decision to bring back Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best. After enduring a rough couple of decades thanks to toxic fans, Best finally got to enjoy a piece of the honor he has long deserved, and the decision to feature him wasn’t made lightly.
The Mandalorian season 3 saw several incredible guest appearances. But many fans will agree that one of the most enjoyable and satisfying ones belongs to Best as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq (aka “The Sabered Hand”), who appeared in a flashback as the one who saved young Grogu during the Order 66 purge of the Jedi Order. Best, who is most well-known for his many appearances as Jar Jar Binks since 1999’s The Phantom Menace, had also previously appeared as Master Beq while hosting the Star Wars children’s game show Jedi Temple Challenge. But what inspired the folks behind The Mandalorian to include that particular character in the show?
Disney Plus just released some new behind-the-scenes info on the series by way of Disney Gallery: The Making of The Mandalorian Season 3, and it features some backstory into why showrunners Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau chose Best’s lightsaber-focused Jedi Master for this particular cameo. “We needed Grogu to have a type of savior companion that preceded Mando and that it would be a Jedi,” Filoni detailed (via IGN). “And then it becomes important to say, ‘Well, who is that? Cause that’ll be a big deal,’ And for me, it’s always nice when it’s somebody ‘in the family’ here at Lucasfilm. Someone that’s been out there representing Star Wars, interacting with the fans, carrying the banner. And Ahmed Best has been such an important part of our Star Wars history.”
Best also helped create his Jedi character, along with simply being a lifelong Star Wars fan himself, and that went a long way in influencing their decision as well. “He grew up as part of it. Through all different eras of it,” Favreau added. “And he also has martial arts training. He introduced the character of Kelleran Beq, a Jedi, into Star Wars. And we thought that this could present a really cool opportunity to incorporate him into The Mandalorian.” Best’s connection to his character helped sell the importance of the scene, which paved the way for Grogu to eventually end up with Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin (the titular Mandalorian occasionally known as “Mando”). It also made the context of Grogu’s rescue feel even more significant.
“We knew we had to tell more stories ’cause we’ve told flashbacks about what happened to Grogu. And how Grogu escaped the Jedi Temple,” Favreau continued. “We’ve shown little glimpses and clips of his memory, most recently in The Book of Boba Fett. And so, we wanted to continue to tell that story in small chapters. So we had to figure out, ‘Ok, what’s the next chapter? What’s the likely thing that would’ve happened?'”
That “likely thing” was one of the most talked-about moments in recent Star Wars history. While the destruction of the Darksaber might be more impactful as part of the canon, Best’s return has inspired countless smiles on fans’ faces. It’s a shame many of those same fans contributed to the harassment of Best over the years before ultimately realizing their mistakes because he deserved so much better. But here’s hoping this is the start of something wonderful for this beloved and passionate star.
