'Star Wars' Prequel Cast: Where Are They Now?
While we wait for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" to open on December 18, our thoughts turn to the last time we got so excited for a new set of "Star Wars" movies. Let's catch up with the stars of the "Star Wars" prequels.
Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn)
Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn) Before playing the Jedi Master in "Phantom Menace," Neeson was known for indie films like "Michael Collins" and his Oscar-nominated turn in "
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) The Scottish star (best known for playing a junkie in 1996's "Trainspotting") made a dashing young Obi-Wan, serving as padawan to Jedi Master Jinn. Since joining the "Star Wars" 'verse, he's starred in "Moulin Rouge!," "Beginners," and "The Impossible." He recently appeared in this year's "Mortdecai" (pictured). He reunited with Natalie Portman for the long-delayed "Jane Got a Gun" and will play Lumiere in the live-action "Beauty and the Beast."
Jake Lloyd (Young Anakin)
ake Lloyd (Young Anakin) Lloyd drew the wrath of fans who hated that the beloved franchise was now about a 10-year-old and his life became a "living hell" of bullying, according to The Daily Beast. He voiced Anakin in several videogames but his only other acting gig was in 2005's "Madison. Earlier this year, the now 26-year-old Lloyd was arrested after leading cops on a wild car chase. He reportedly suffers from schizophrenia.
Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala)
Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala) Here's one child star who turned out more than okay: The young star of "The Professional" had some cringe-worthy lines in the prequels but survived with her integrity intact. Post "Star Wars," she made the great cult film "V for Vendetta," nabbed an Oscar for "Black Swan," and won a superhero's heart in "Thor." Next up: The long-delayed "Jane Got a Gun" (pictured) and "Jackie," in which she'll play Jackie Kennedy.
Hayden Christensen (Anakin)
Hayden Christensen (Anakin) While Christensen hasn't been as haunted by the role of Anakin as Jake Lloyd, playing the Man Who Became Darth Vader hasn't really done much for his career either. Outside of "Star Wars," his films include "Jumper," "Takers," "Shattered Glass" and "Awake." He starred in the 2014 action-adventure film, "Outcast" (pictured). This year, he starred in "90 Minutes in Heaven" and is next headlining "Marco Polo" as the famous explorer.
Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu)
Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu)
Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu) Obviously the "Pulp Fiction" star made a badass Jedi (even if he didn't have a wallet that said so). Since wielding the only purple lightsaber in the franchise in "Episode II" and "III," he battled snakes on a plane and took on an even bigger franchise role as SHIELD honcho Nick Fury (pictured). Coming up soon: Tarantino's latest, "The Hateful Eight" and in 2017, "Kong: Skull Island."
Joel Edgerton (Owen Lars)
Joel Edgerton (Owen Lars) Since playing Uncle Owen in "Attack of the Clones" and "Sith," Edgerton has had the biggest career surge of any prequel cast member. He got great buzz in "Animal Kingdom" (filmed in his native Australia), then broke out in "Warrior" opposite Tom Hardy and as hotheaded Tom Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby." "Exodus: Gods and Kings" was a bust, but he got great reviews for his role in this year's "Black Mass" and had a hit with 2015's "The Gift" (pictured).
