Ahmed Best has a brand new Star Wars series, and this time, the Jar Jar Binks actor is playing a Jedi. Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge is a brand new Star Wars kids game show built like the old action-adventure TV game Legend of the Hidden Temple, and Best is playing the show's host, Jedi Master Kelleran Beq.
It's great to see Best return to the franchise after all this time. The actor didn't exactly have the best experience playing Jar Jar Binks in the prequel trilogy; in fact, Best had been bullied by fans who didn't enjoy seeing Star Wars' annoying Gunggan clown.
Still, Best, welcomed the opportunity to return, this time in an entirely different role. Speaking in an interview with StarWars.com, the actor opened up about how he found his way back to the galaxy far, far away.
"I never thought that I would be asked back, to be honest," Best said, "I was very pleasantly surprised. What really made me say yes was the fact that this was breaking new ground in the Star Wars universe."
Playing Jedi Master Kelleran Beq means a lot to Best. The actor is glad to be able to let young Star Wars fans see another person of color lead the Jedi.
"I think what's the most important about the representation of someone like Kelleran Beq as far as being a person of color and the leader of this Temple — kind of like the Dean of Jedi — is it breaks down what's possible," Best says. "It breaks down what you can do, and creates just a brand new world of possibilities out there."
Lucasfilm has always been pushing for representation and diversity in the galaxy far, far away. We can't wait to see Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge make their way online.
Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge is streaming weekly on the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel.
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