The Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace cast is led by Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn, Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala and Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker, with Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), directed by George Lucas, opened in the US on May 19, 1999, and TMDB credits 121 cast members in all. Pernilla August plays Shmi Skywalker, Ahmed Best plays Jar Jar Binks, Ray Park plays Darth Maul and Samuel L. Jackson plays Mace Windu. What makes this ensemble notable is the overlap with the original trilogy, since Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz and Ian McDiarmid all return to roles they first played between 1977 and 1983. Meanwhile, McGregor takes on a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi Alec Guinness played in Star Wars (1977), much like a new driver taking the wheel of a familiar family car.
| # | Actor | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liam Neeson | Qui-Gon Jinn |
| 2 | Ewan McGregor | Obi-Wan Kenobi |
| 3 | Natalie Portman | Padmé Amidala |
| 4 | Jake Lloyd | Anakin Skywalker |
| 5 | Ian McDiarmid | Senator Palpatine |
| 6 | Pernilla August | Shmi Skywalker |
| 7 | Oliver Ford Davies | Governor Sio Bibble |
| 8 | Hugh Quarshie | Captain Panaka |
| 9 | Ahmed Best | Jar Jar Binks |
| 10 | Anthony Daniels | C-3PO (voice) |
| 11 | Kenny Baker | R2-D2 |
| 12 | Frank Oz | Yoda (voice) |
| 13 | Terence Stamp | Chancellor Valorum |
| 14 | Brian Blessed | Boss Nass (voice) |
| 15 | Andy Secombe | Watto (voice) |
| 16 | Ray Park | Darth Maul |
| 17 | Lewis Macleod | Sebulba (voice) |
| 18 | Warwick Davis | Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen |
| 19 | Steve Speirs | Captain Tarpals |
| 20 | Silas Carson | Nute Gunray / Ki-Adi-Mundi / Lott Dodd / Republic Cruiser Pilot |
| 21 | Jerome St. John Blake | Mas Amenda / Orn Free Taa / Oppo Rancisis / Rune Haako / Horox Ryyder / Graxol Kelvynn / Mick Reckrap |
| 22 | Alan Ruscoe | Daultay Dofine / Plo Koon / Bib Fortuna |
| 23 | Ralph Brown | Ric Olié |
| 24 | Celia Imrie | Fighter Pilot Bravo 5 |
Billing order from the film's credits (TMDB). Actors with a Cinvibe page and characters with a character page are linked.
Also in the cast: Benedict Taylor (Fighter Pilot Bravo 2), Clarence Smith (Fighter Pilot Bravo 3), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Dominic West (Palace Guard), Karol Cristina da Silva (Rabé), Liz Wilson (Eirtaé), Candice Orwell (Yané), Sofia Coppola (Saché), Keira Knightley (Sabé), Bronagh Gallagher (Republic Cruiser Captain), John Fensom (TC-14), Greg Proops (Fode (voice)), Scott Capurro (Beed (voice)), Margaret Towner (Jira), Dhruv Chanchani (Kitster), Oliver Walpole (Seek), Megan Udall (Melee), Hassani Shapi (Eeth Koth), Gin Clarke (Adi Gallia), Khan Bonfils (Saesee Tiin), Michelle Taylor (Yarael Poof), Michaela Cottrell (Even Piell), Dipika O'Neill Joti (Depa Billaba), Phil Eason (Yaddle), Mark Coulier (Aks Moe), Lindsay Duncan (TC-14 (voice)), Peter Serafinowicz (Darth Maul / Battle Droid Commander / Gungan Scout (voice)), James Taylor (Rune Haako (voice)), Chris Sanders (Daultay Dofine (voice)), Toby Longworth (Senator Lott Dodd / Gragra (voice)), Marc Silk (Aks Moe (voice)), Danny Wagner (Mawhonic), Amanda Lucas (Tey How / Diva Funquita (voice) (as Tyger)), Katie Lucas (Amee), Richard Armitage (Tonra), Sacha Alexander (Graf Zapalo - Advisor to Queen Amidala (uncredited)), Simon Allen (Flag Bearer (uncredited)), Paul Bannon (Pod Racer Mechanic (uncredited)), Don Bies (Pod Race Mechanic (uncredited)), Trisha Biggar (Orn Free Taa's Aide (uncredited)), Michonne Bourriague (Aurra Sing (uncredited)), Douglas Bunn (Naboo Guard (uncredited)), Ben Burtt (Naboo Courier (uncredited)), Doug Chiang (Flag Bearer (uncredited)), Rob Coleman (Pod Race Spectator in Jabba's Private Box (uncredited)), Roman Coppola (Senate Guard (uncredited)), Sean Cronin (Coruscant Senate Guard (uncredited)), Zsuzsanna Cseh (Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)), Matt Daniel-Baker (Naboo Foot Soldier (uncredited)), Russell Darling (Naboo Royal Security Guard (uncredited)), Philip Delancy (Naboo Starship Pilot (uncredited)), Sebastian Dewing (Senate Guard (uncredited)), Andrew Doucette (Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)), C. Michael Easton (Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)), Andrew Elias (Naboo Royal Guard (uncredited)), Catherine Ernster (Naboo Civilian (uncredited)), Salo Gardner ((uncredited)), Andrew Gersh (Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)), Patrice Girod (Naboo Citizen (uncredited)), Ned Gorman (Naboo Citizen (uncredited)), Joss Gower (Naboo Fighter Pilot (uncredited)), Raymond Griffiths (GONK Droid (uncredited)), Nathan Hamill (Pod Race Spectator / Naboo Palace Guard (uncredited)), Tim Harrington (Naboo Security Guard (uncredited)), Sally Hawkins (Bystander (uncredited)), Jack Hayes (Pod Race Spectator in Jabba's Private Box (uncredited)), Nifa Hindes (Ann Gella (uncredited)), Nishan Hindes (Tann Gella (uncredited)), Frank Huseyin (Jenn Smeel (uncredited)), Alexi Kaye Campbell (Naboo Guard (uncredited)), David Knight (Aqualish Alian (uncredited)), John Knoll (Lt. Rya Kirsch - Bravo 4 / Flag Bearer (uncredited)), Kamay Lau (Sei Taria - Senators Aide (uncredited)), Andrew Lawden (Naboo Foot Soldier (uncredited)), John M. Levin (Naboo Fighter Pilot / Naboo Citizen / Senator (uncredited)), Dan Madsen (Kaadu Handler (uncredited)), Iain McCaig (Orn Free Taa's Aide (uncredited)), Rick McCallum (Naboo Courier (uncredited)), João Costa Menezes (Naboo Fighter Pilot (uncredited)), Lorne Peterson (Mos Espa Citizen (uncredited)) and 17 more credited roles.
Liam Neeson plays Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace, the Jedi sent with his apprentice to settle the Trade Federation dispute over Naboo. He is billed first in the TMDB credits, ahead of Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman, and this is his first appearance in the saga. TMDB also lists him as the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn in Attack of the Clones (2002).
Ewan McGregor plays Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace, the apprentice of Qui-Gon Jinn and a younger version of the Jedi that Alec Guinness played in Star Wars (1977). Robin Gurland discusses the casting of Obi-Wan Kenobi in a video published by StarWars.com. TMDB lists McGregor in the role again for Attack of the Clones (2002), making this his first of the prequel films.
Natalie Portman plays Padmé Amidala in The Phantom Menace, billed third, in a story where the Jedi rescue Queen Amidala and escape the Naboo blockade. Robin Gurland, credited for casting on TMDB, discusses how the Queen Amidala role was cast in an interview video published by StarWars.com. Portman returns as Padmé Amidala in Attack of the Clones (2002), according to TMDB.
Jake Lloyd plays Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace, a character first written as twelve years old and then reduced to nine. Casting director Robin Gurland said in a StarWars.com video that George Lucas wrote the script knowing it would be an incredible task to find the right child actor. TMDB credits Hayden Christensen with the role in Attack of the Clones (2002).
Ian McDiarmid plays Senator Palpatine in The Phantom Menace, returning to the saga sixteen years after Return of the Jedi (1983), where TMDB credits him as The Emperor. He is billed fifth here, and TMDB lists him as Chancellor Palpatine in Attack of the Clones (2002), so his screen work links the original trilogy to the prequels.
Pernilla August plays Shmi Skywalker in The Phantom Menace, the mother of Jake Lloyd's Anakin Skywalker. She is billed sixth, between Ian McDiarmid and Oliver Ford Davies, and she is one of the cast members whose role carries forward, since TMDB lists her again as Shmi Skywalker in Attack of the Clones (2002).
Oliver Ford Davies plays Governor Sio Bibble in The Phantom Menace, an official of Naboo, the planet the Trade Federation blockades as the story begins. He is billed seventh in the TMDB credits, well ahead of Samuel L. Jackson and Keira Knightley. TMDB lists him as Governor Sio Bibble again in Attack of the Clones (2002), a return in the same role.
Hugh Quarshie plays Captain Panaka in The Phantom Menace, billed eighth in a TMDB cast list of 121 cast members, just above Ahmed Best. Unlike Oliver Ford Davies and Pernilla August, he is not listed in the TMDB cast for Attack of the Clones (2002), so Captain Panaka is a role that, on that record, belongs to this film.
Ahmed Best plays Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace, the Gungan outcast who guides the Jedi toward the Naboo capital. StarWars.com reported in 2024 that casting director Robin Gurland spotted him in Stomp in San Francisco, and that his screen test with George Lucas was a motion capture session. The plan did not at first include him voicing Jar Jar, and he won the voice role after the first table read and on set.
Anthony Daniels voices C-3PO in The Phantom Menace, the droid he first played in Star Wars (1977), according to TMDB. His official biography describes his part in this film as an off camera voice, and notes that he performed C-3PO on camera again in Attack of the Clones (2002).
Kenny Baker plays R2-D2 in The Phantom Menace, returning to the droid he first played in Star Wars (1977), according to TMDB. CBS News reported in 2016 that he repeated the role in all three prequels: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. He is billed eleventh here, directly after Anthony Daniels.
Frank Oz voices Yoda in The Phantom Menace, the role TMDB credits him with in Return of the Jedi (1983). He is billed twelfth and is one of four performers in the top dozen who return from the original trilogy, alongside Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker. TMDB lists him as the voice of Yoda again in Attack of the Clones (2002).
Casting for the phantom menace was led by Robin Gurland, who is credited for casting on TMDB. George Lucas began writing the prequel trilogy on November 1, 1994, under the working title The Beginning, and principal photography began on June 26, 1997.
Gurland discusses the casting of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Queen Amidala in a video published by StarWars.com, the roles that went to Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman. By her account in a second StarWars.com video, the search for Anakin was a challenge from the start, because Lucas wrote the script knowing it would be an incredible task to find the right child actor (the character was first written as twelve, then reduced to nine, and Jake Lloyd took the part).
Jar Jar Binks was cast in a different way. StarWars.com reported that Gurland spotted Ahmed Best in Stomp in San Francisco, and that his screen test for Lucas was a motion capture session. The plan did not at first include him voicing the character, and he won the voice role after the first table read and on set.
Four of the top twelve billed actors return from the original star wars movies. Ian McDiarmid, credited as The Emperor in Return of the Jedi (1983), comes back as Senator Palpatine, while Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker return as C-3PO and R2-D2, the droids they first played in Star Wars (1977). Frank Oz again voices Yoda, and Warwick Davis, credited as Wicket in Return of the Jedi, appears here as Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen.
The rest of the top billing is new to the saga. Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Pernilla August and Ahmed Best join the series here, as do Ray Park as Darth Maul and Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu. Ewan McGregor is a slightly different case, a new actor in an established role, playing the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi whom Alec Guinness played in Star Wars (1977). Further down the credits, Keira Knightley appears as Sabé and Sofia Coppola as Saché.
| Director | George Lucas |
|---|---|
| Writers | George Lucas |
| Producers | Rick McCallum |
| Music | John Williams |
| Cinematography | David Tattersall |
Liam Neeson played Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, and he is billed first in the TMDB credits. Ewan McGregor plays his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the film was directed by George Lucas and released in 1999. TMDB also lists Neeson as the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn in Attack of the Clones (2002).
Jake Lloyd played Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace, billed fourth behind Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman. Casting director Robin Gurland described finding the right child actor as an incredible task in a StarWars.com video. For the older Anakin in Attack of the Clones (2002), TMDB credits Hayden Christensen, so the role was recast as the character aged.
The best known villain in The Phantom Menace is Darth Maul, played by Ray Park, with his voice credited to Peter Serafinowicz on TMDB. The wider threat is the blockade of Naboo, which is part of a hidden plan run by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Silas Carson plays Nute Gunray, one of four roles credited to him in the film.
Yes, Keira Knightley is in The Phantom Menace, credited as Sabé and billed 33rd on TMDB. Sofia Coppola appears as Saché, alongside Karol Cristina da Silva as Rabé, Liz Wilson as Eirtaé and Candice Orwell as Yané. Other familiar names in the wider ensemble include Dominic West as Palace Guard and Richard Armitage as Tonra.
Anakin Skywalker is nine years old in The Phantom Menace; the character was first written as twelve years old and then reduced to nine. Jake Lloyd plays him, and Pernilla August plays his mother, Shmi Skywalker. The age change belongs to the long development of the prequels, which George Lucas began writing on November 1, 1994.
Partly, yes: five actors from the original trilogy appear in The Phantom Menace. Ian McDiarmid plays Senator Palpatine, Anthony Daniels voices C-3PO, Kenny Baker plays R2-D2, Frank Oz voices Yoda and Warwick Davis plays Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen. Most other roles went to new actors, including Ewan McGregor as the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Star Wars the Adventure Continues most likely refers to Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, a flight simulator with digital 3D video and more than 250 possible storyline variations.
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