Jedi Master Kelleran Beq and Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best wants a John Wick-style Star Wars movie, and it would be absolutely perfect. Ahmed Best first joined Star Wars as the voice actor behind Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Unfortunately, The Phantom Menace, along with the other prequel movies at the time, received considerable backlash and continue to be perceived as some of Star Wars’ worst movies. However, in the decades since The Phantom Menace’s release, Ahmed Best has been welcomed back to Star Wars with the enthusiasm he always deserved.
In fact, Best rejoined Star Wars movies and TV shows as a completely different character, appearing in live-action as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, the Jedi who saved Grogu from Order 66 in The Mandalorian. In “Chapter 20: The Foundling,” Best made his incredible return, re-entering the Star Wars timeline this time as a beloved hero. Now, Best has expressed interest in an entirely new Star Wars project befitting both his acting chops and his new character: a John Wick-style Jedi movie.
What Ahmed Best Has Done Since Playing Jar Jar Binks
With Ahmed Best returning to Star Wars in The Mandalorian season 3, here are his other roles since playing Jar Jar Binks in the prequel trilogy.
Ahmed Best’s “Jedi John Wick” Pitch Explained
In an interview with ComicBook.com, Ahmed Best explained his interest in a brand-new movie project for his Jedi character, Kelleran Beq:
“I want to do a Jedi John Wick as Kelleran Beq. And I don’t even need to say any words. I just want to do two hours of lightsabers and people in the way. I really want to do something like that because the fight that I did for Mandalorian is 1/10th of 1% of what I could do.”
The movie franchise John Wick is one filled with action and fighting, with Keanu Reeves playing the titular John Wick, an ex-hitman who ends up on a killing rampage. While the movies are very popular, they are driven by action sequences and thrills; they don’t follow the same type of narrative exposition that Star Wars movies do. While the Jedi are warriors—often fighting in full-fledged wars—Star Wars is focused on individuals and their stories in a way quite distinct from most action movies.
Star Wars is focused on individuals and their stories in a way quite distinct from most action movies.
In light of that, Ahmed Best is essentially asking for a completely unique Star Wars movie, one that prioritizes witnessing a Jedi in action rather than exploring a deeper narrative. Indeed, Best made that quite clear by saying the movie would simply be two hours of lightsabers and wouldn’t require him to say a word. This truly would be an incredible shift for Star Wars.
Viewers are often eager for longer, more involved lightsaber battles, with duels such as the one between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader on Mustafar in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith being one of the most celebrated moments in the entire franchise. Best’s John Wick Jedi idea would give Star Wars audiences exactly that. After all, Jedi are meant to be powerful, highly-skilled fighters. Who better to be at the forefront of an action thriller?
Ahmed Best Is The Perfect Actor For A “Jedi John Wick” Movie
Ahmed Best has already proven to be a versatile, talented actor in the Star Wars franchise. Interestingly, though, Best would also make an incredible John Wick-style Jedi for reasons outside his Star Wars background. In fact, Ahmed Best has a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, making his assertion that there was so much more he could do than what is shown in The Mandalorian certainly seem true.
This would be a fascinating turn both for Best and for Star Wars more broadly. Although many Star Wars actors have proven how capable they are when it comes to learning fighting sequences—which many have compared to dance choreography—Best would bring the talent of someone formally trained in fighting. Particularly in light of the character Best plays in The Mandalorian and his significance in the wake of Order 66, Best’s background in this regard would perfectly position him to take on a John Wick role in Star Wars.
It’s Not Hard To Imagine A “Jedi John Wick” Movie In The Dark Times
The Dark Times, in combination with Jedi Master Kelleran Beq’s role, would be the perfect period for such a Star Wars movie to take place. Kelleran Beq was introduced in The Mandalorian as the brave Jedi Master who saved Grogu during Order 66, presumably making him the only reason Grogu survived. However, this also positions Beq as one of the few Jedi who survived Order 66, and the remainder of his Dark Times story is yet to be told. This could make way for an incredible story, wherein Beq is working to identify other surviving Jedi or other Force-sensitive beings.
In this scenario, Kelleran Beq could become a type of Jedi vigilante, working against the Empire discreetly and no doubt going toe-to-toe with the Imperial Inquisitors in his efforts to save the Jedi and Force-sensitive people he encountered. In keeping with Best’s vision for what such a movie could hold, this could even mean Beq operating outside the Rebellion and away from contact with the Rebels. Instead, Beq could be a free agent, perhaps even willing to abandon the Jedi way to save other Jedi.
Kelleran Beq could become a type of Jedi vigilante.
This would also align with much of what Star Wars has been building toward lately. Although projects like Star Wars: The Acolyte and Rey’s upcoming Star Wars movie are expanding the franchise into new eras, plenty of interest remains for the Dark Times and the Jedi. Shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars: Tales of the Empire have specifically shed additional light upon the Inquisitors and their efforts to either enlist or eradicate anyone with Force sensitivity.
However, there is certainly more to explore there. Star Wars has introduced numerous Inquisitors in the last several years, but many of their stories have not been dealt with in great detail. This means the door could be open for one particularly taxing Order 66 survivor to become a great adversary. This would also give Ahmed Best what he is looking for. The Inquisitors are ruthless, bloodthirsty, even cruel beings who have no problems with indiscriminately killing Force-sensitive people, including children.
This could set Kelleran Beq up beautifully for the two hours of lightsaber battles and fighting Ahmed Best was hoping for. By positioning Jedi Master Kelleran Beq as a Force-sensitive vigilante working against the Inquisitors, Star Wars could truly have a John Wick-style twist. While this is all only speculative for now, Ahmed Best truly did just give Star Wars an idea that could lead to the franchise’s next great movie.