10 First Draft Movie Ideas Better Than What We Got
9. More Obi-Wan & Darth Maul, Less Jar Jar & Qui-Gon - Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
The Original Idea
George Lucas' first draft of Star Wars: Episode I differed quite significantly from the final film.
Most of all, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) doesn't show up until Coruscant, with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) taking on much of Qui-Gon's eventual duties, as the script places a greater emphasis on his relationship with Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd).
Darth Maul (Ray Park), by far the most disappointingly under-served character across the prequels, meanwhile has more of a presence and says more than a whole three lines.
Jar Jar (Ahmed Best) is also more tolerable in this draft: he's in the film less, and doesn't speak with the irritating - if not downright problematic - gobbledegook present in the end product.
What We Got
You can't really knock the idea of Liam Neeson being in a Star Wars movie, but given that Episodes II and III were focused on the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin (Hayden Christensen), Qui-Gon often feels like he gets in the way of that in the final film.
McGregor's in the movie plenty, of course, but the centrality of his role is de-emphasised somewhat, with many of his original actions being divided between himself and Qui-Gon.
Darth Maul is a complete wash despite his awesome visual appearance and a few neat action beats - thanks, John Williams! - while Jar Jar turned out an annoying merch-baiting abomination at best, or a spectacularly offensive racial caricature at worst.