Star Wars: What Happened To Jar Jar Binks After The Prequel Movies

Jar Jar Binks is one of the most unpopular characters in the Star Wars universe, but even though his appearances in the films decreased drastically, he wasn’t left behind entirely. The Gungan outcast was introduced in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace with the intention of being a character that would appeal to younger audiences, but sadly Binks quickly became one of the most disliked characters in Star Wars.

He came back in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones in a smaller role, yet a very significant one as viewers witnessed how he, without really knowing it, took part in the rise of the Empire by speaking in favor of granting Chancellor Palpatine emergency executive powers, which he later used to overthrow the senate. His last appearance in the film saga was in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, where he can be seen in a few scenes, with no substantial dialogue. So, where has Jar Jar Binks been since?

After Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was released, Jar Jar Binks came back in a supporting role in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, set between Episode II and Episode III, but it wasn’t until Chuck Wendig’s Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire’s End novel was published in 2017 that fans knew what Binks had been up to. It turns out that, between the events in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Binks became a street performer in Theed, beloved by children and loathed by adults.

Also in the Star Wars novel, Binks befriended a refugee boy named Mapo, who lived in a nearby orphanage and who had been badly burned when the Empire bombed his home. Binks and Mapo bonded over their “outcast” status, as most people weren’t willing to talk nor adopt Mapo due to his burns, and Binks was rejected by the people in Naboo who believed he helped the Empire. Mapo asked him to teach him to be a clown and he accepted, so they can make the “galaxy smile again”.

Prior to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, director J.J Abrams shared his plan of referencing Binks’ death by putting his bones in the desert. It would’ve been an interesting (and dark) Easter egg for fans that have been waiting to know what happened to the character, but in the end it didn’t happen. However, this idea came before Empire’s End was released, so the plan could have changed by now.

Whether Jar Jar Binks is still alive or not, or if he found a new home in another place with his friend Mapo, will remain unknown until either the next film in the saga drops some clues or a new novel sheds some light on the matter. After everything Binks and those linked to him have gone through, it’s probably best to let the character be, whatever that might mean for Star Wars‘ writers and creators.

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About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
(3271 Articles Published)

Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

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When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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