Ahmed Best, Who Voiced Jar Jar Binks, Will Return To ‘Star Wars’ To Host ‘Jedi Temple Challenge’

Actor Ahmed Best will return to the world of Star Wars. Best previously voiced the evil Gungan Jar Jar Binks in George Lucas‘s 1999-2005 Star Wars trilogy of prequels, but now he will return to the galaxy as the host of the upcoming Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge game show.

Best, as the show’s host, will be known as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq and will guide the players through their challenges. 

The show originally planned for Disney+ will premiere on YouTube’s Star Wars Kids channel and will be filmed at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge theme park. Comprised of ten episodes, the game show will test kids in teams of two on their abilities to become Jedi knights through a number of tests of strength and knowledge.

Best’s role in the show will help him continue to recover from criticism he received for previously playing the character, Jar Jar Binks. In 2018, the actor shared in an Instagram post how harsh the backlash was for his former role. Best commented, “I don’t talk a lot about my experience as #jarjarbinks because a lot of it is very painful. I faced a media backlash that still affects my career today. This was the place I almost ended my life. It’s still hard to talk about.”

Mickey Capoferri, the senior director of online content and programming for Lucasfilm, said in a statement, “With so many children and families home and looking to Star Wars for hope and entertainment, we wanted to make Jedi Temple Challenge available to as many young fans as possible by airing the series on our Star Wars Kids network for everyone to enjoy.”

Stars Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge will debut with two episodes on YouTube on June 3.