Ahmed Best is back in the Star Wars universe not as Jar Jar Binks, but as a Jedi.Image Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm
The third season of The Mandalorian is in full swing. Season 3, Episode 4 reveals a great mystery about Grogu’s past: who rescued Din Djarin’s foundling from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant during Order 66? Chapter 20 finally provides the answer: Kelleran Beq – a Jedi that Star Wars fans already know.
Kelleran Beq and his role in The Mandalorian
What exactly happened? While Din Djarin, Bo-Katan Kryce, Paz Vizsla and other Mandalorians set out to rescue the foundling kidnapped by the Raptor, Grogu is tutored by the Weapon Master. As with his father before, the forge probably triggers a kind of PTSD-related flashback.
Once again, we look back in time and learn more about how Grogu survived Order 66 and the clone troopers’ attack on the Jedi Temple led by Darth Vader. As it turns out, Grogu was rescued by a Jedi named Kelleran Beq, who took him away from Corsucant on a Naboo ship.
Yes, this is really Ahmed Best: You read that right. Kelleran Beq is portrayed in The Mandalorian: Chapter 20 by Ahmed Best, who of course is no stranger to Star Wars fans: Best played Gungan Jar Jar Binks in the prequels.
Ahmed Best has not only had good experiences with Star Wars. Due to his controversial role as Jar Jar Binks, the actor was the victim of numerous hostilities, some of which were of a racist nature. Years later, Best revealed that he even struggled with suicidal thoughts because of it (via ScreenRant).
Many Star Wars fans are now visibly excited about Best’s return:
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From Jar Jar Binks to Jedi Master
Where is Kelleran Beq? In the new Star Wars canon, Kelleran Baq was most notorious for his lightsaber skills, earning the nickname The Sabered Hand
. In the Jedi Temple of Coruscant he taught numerous Padawans and was to be understood as a kind of dean.
Much of Kelleran Beq’s backstory comes from the actor himself: Ahmed Best. He describes Beq as a Jedi who is largely devoted to teaching other Jedi. According to his own statement, Best was inspired by the mentoring qualities of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda.
The new Jedi is actually not new at all: By the way, Kelleran Beq existed before his debut in The Mandalorian. Ahmed Best previously hosted the Jedi Temple Challenge children’s game show available on YouTube in the role. Participants completed obstacle courses and challenges inspired by the Star Wars universe to complete Jedi training.
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The fact that Ahmed Best saves the role of Kelleran Beq Grogu from Darth Vader and the 501st Legion from the Jedi Temple of Coruscant is more than fitting. Of course, it’s exciting to see how things continue with the Jedi master and what connection he has with the Naboo. There must be a good reason why the royal guards know him, expect him and even give him their ship.
By the way: You can read about the other exciting findings from the current episodes of The Mandalorian as follows:
Do you have Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best in his new
Star Wars role recognized as Kellerand Beq? How did you like his performance in The Mandalorian? How do you think the plot continues in the past around Grogu, Beq and the Naboo ship? What are your hopes for future episodes of The Mandalorian? Let us know in the comments!
