Obi-Wan Kenobi's TV show will feature a number of returning characters and on-screen reunions – but the return of Liam Neeson's Qui-Gon Jinn won't be among that number.
Speaking to ComicBookom , Neeson all but confirmed that he wasn't involved in Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney Plus . Asked if he'd be open to reprising his role as Qui-Gon in a galaxy far, far away, the Taken and Derry Girls actor, who portrayed Obi-Wan's mentor in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, indicated that he would. However, Neeson added that he'd only return for a Star Wars movie – ending fans' hopes for a potential cameo (as a Force Ghost) in Obi-Wan's TV series.
"Oh, I think so, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think so ... if it was a film," Neeson responded. "Yeah, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to TV, I must admit, I just like the big screen, you know?"
Star Wars fans had secretly been hoping that Neeson's Qui-Gon would have a bit-part role in Obi-Wan's standalone adventure. After all, there are plenty of examples of dead Jedi appearing to their former apprentices throughout Star Wars' illustrious history. Many had hoped, then, that Qui-Gon would appear before Obi-Wan at some point in the latter's upcoming TV series.
Sure, Neeson doesn't outright deny that he'll appear in Obi-Wan. However, his comments about only returning to the Star Wars franchise for a film role heavily suggest that he won't make an appearance in the show.
Still, there are plenty of other returning faces who'll crop up in Obi-Wan's six-episode run. Ewan McGregor reprises his role from the Star Wars prequel trilogy as the titular hero, while Hayden Christensen is back as Darth Vader. Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse will also return as Owen and Beru Lars from episodes I, II, and III, the duo who raise Luke Skywalker after Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side and became the legendary Sith Lord he's known as today.
Obi-Wan launches exclusively on Disney Plus on Friday, May 27 . The show's first two episodes will air on that date, with the remaining four arriving weekly after that.
Analysis: Qui-Gon, but not forgotten
Qui-Gon Jinn may have only appeared in one live-action Star Wars production, but Neeson's turn as the Jedi Master was one of the better parts of Lucasfilm's prequel trilogy.
Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III are looked down upon by large swathes of Star Wars' fanbase, with the films' reliance on politics, heavy CGI effects, and laughable dialogue chief among fans' complaints. Neeson's Qui-Gon, though, was considered to be a highlight of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and he remains a fan favorite character to this day.
Qui-Gon has gone on to feature in a number of Star Wars comics since his initial appearance in The Phantom Menace; his backstory being fleshed out in various comic series and other Star Wars books and novels. The highly-respected Qui-Gon always ranks highly in lists about the most beloved and/or powerful Jedis of all-time, too, showing that fans still yearn for more of the character two decades on from his one and only cinematic appearance.
Despite Neeson's reluctance to feature in a Star Wars TV show, it seems that he could be coaxed back for a big screen adventure. That marks something of an about-turn for Neeson, too, who told Entertainment Tonight (in February 2020) that he wouldn't consider returning to Star Wars in any capacity. It's unclear where, when, or how he'd show up in a future Star Wars movie, but Neeson's certainly left the door open on returning if he feels the project is the right fit.
Even if he doesn't, there's plenty of other Star Wars projects in the works. Standalone, live-action TV shows centered on Ahsoka Tano and Cassian Andor are on the way in 2022, while The Mandalorian season 3 will air on Disney Plus sometime this year. Hopefully, anyway.
Meanwhile, animated shows including The Bad Batch season 2 are also set to be released in the future. For more details on every Star Wars movie and TV show in development, check out our handy guide .
Mint Mobile vs Verizon: which carrier is best, and which is right for you?
Mint Mobile vs Verizon is a real battle of the giants. On one side, we've got the plucky upstart carrier Mint Mobile - a newcomer that's quickly established itself with some of the best prepaid phone plans on the market. On the other, we've got Verizon, an established industry veteran with one of the most expansive 5G networks around.
As you'll see, both carriers have advantages, but they operate in very different ways indeed, and they appeal to very different types of user too. On this page, we'll compare each carrier's offerings in detail to help you decide which is right for you. To start, let's run down the main features and cost of each service, starting with a general overview of what you can expect from each.
Mint Mobile vs Verizon: at a glance
| Mint Mobile | Verizon | |
| Contract length | No contract (3 to 12 month plans) | 24-month contracts |
| 5G data | Up until 35GB (128Kb/s after) | Yes (4G on Start Unlimited) |
| Video streaming | 480p | 4K UHD (480p on Start Unlimited) |
| Streaming perks | No | Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ |
| International calling | 60 countries | 200+ countries |
| Mobile hotspot | 5GB cap on unlimited plan | None on Start Unlimited, 15GB+ on other plans |
| Deprioritization | Yes | After 50GB usage |
| Family plans | No | Yes |
As you can see from our quick Mint Mobile vs Verizon features comparison above, Mint generally offers a much more stripped-down plan, but at a lower baseline cost. Verizon, meanwhile, offers excellent streaming perks and resolutions, but at a price - and you'll need to sign up for a lengthy contract too.
The case for Mint Mobile
First thing's first, Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier and therefore tends to offer plans that are a lot cheaper than the big carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Generally speaking, with Mint Mobile you'll pay a lot less on average each month, you won't be tied to a long contract, and you'll have the freedom to change your plan more frequently.
As a rule of thumb, Mint Mobile's $30 per month unlimited data plan costs about half of what you'd pay on average for an unlimited data plan at Verizon. However, as a prepaid plan, you'll be subject to what's called 'deprioritization' with Mint Mobile - the carrier might slow down your internet data speeds if local traffic is particularly heavy.
Mint's unlimited data plan also features a soft 5G data cap of 35GB. If you exceed it, your data speeds will be reduced to a measly 128KB/s. Subsequently, it's not quite a truly unlimited data plan, although most carriers feature a similar soft-cap on data usage too.
The case for Verizon
On the whole, the biggest selling point of any major carrier (Verizon included) is that you get direct access to the network from the company that actually runs it. Put simply, you'll get prioritized access to the network as a preferred customer, meaning you won't be subject to any slow-downs on your data if the local area is busy. That said, Verizon does deprioritize customers who use over 50GB of data per month, though not to the same extent as prepaid users.
Verizon plans tend to be pretty pricey if you opt for one of the flagship unlimited data plans, but you do tend to receive other perks to sweeten the deal. Things like free streaming service subscriptions (Disney+, Hulu) and cloud storage options are common perks being offered on most of Verizon's plans currently.
You'll also get up to 4K HD video streaming, depending on which plan you choose, which means Verizon's a great option if you're looking to stream content in the highest possible quality while on the go.
And lastly, as a larger carrier, Verizon also offers really great deals on handsets for anyone signing up for a new line on an unlimited data plan. For example, the best Verizon deals can score you things like free iPhones, the latest Samsung Galaxy devices, plus cash bonuses for switching - which can really offset the cost of Verizon's expensive unlimited data plans. With Mint, you either have to bring over an unlocked device, or buy one outright at the Mint Mobile phones page.
Coverage, coverage, coverage
It's worth noting that both Verizon and Mint Mobile run on completely separate networks. This means your data speeds and call reception will vary depending on how well your local area is covered with either carrier.
As you've probably already guessed, Verizon runs its own network, whereas Mint Mobile utilizes T-Mobile's greater network as a subcarrier. Both Verizon and T-Mobile have excellent nationwide coverage on paper, although you'd be wise to check into each network's site ( Verizon , T-Mobile ) and enter your zip code to see how well you're covered. It's also worth asking around in your local area to see how existing customers are faring with their carriers.
If you don't get tip-top coverage in your area, it's probably worth excluding that particular carrier from your choices - it is, after all, no use paying for all that 5G data if you can't use it due to patchy reception.
Also, if you have an unlocked device, you may find that it's not compatible with either Verizon or Mint Mobile. You can check whether your existing device is compatible with Mint Mobile over at this page and at Verizon at this page .
Verdict
Comparing Mint Mobile and Verizon is like comparing apples and oranges: both are great options, but they each suit very different types of users. If you're looking to cut down your bills drastically, then you simply can't beat Mint Mobile for value. Mint's unlimited plan at just $30 per month is under half the monthly price of the basic Verizon Start Unlimited, and arguably offers a better service since the latter is only capped at 4G data speeds.
However, Verizon's plans are a better choice for anyone who wants a premium data plan that ticks all the boxes in regards to streaming and service. You'll have completely uncapped 5G data speeds up until 50GB of usage, 4K video streaming, and free streaming service perks thrown in for good measure. If that appeals to you, then Verizon is top option - just expect to pay quite a bit for it each month.
What other carriers should I check out?
If you like the sound (and lower price) of Mint Mobile, but need to use the Verizon network for coverage reasons, we recommend Twigby. The service has a roaming agreement on Verizon's network and offers basic prepaid plans for as little as $10 per month currently.
Another good alternative for Mint Mobile, especially if you're looking for family cell phone plan options, is Boost Mobile - a service that offers a three-line unlimited plan for just $30 per month , with access to a customer perks scheme too. For more excellent options, head over to our cheap cell phone plans article for more.
Build an unstoppable sound system with JBL’s new EON 700 portable PA systems
For any presentation, whether musical, instructional, or somewhere in between, being heard clearly is vital. Not just any old sound system will do. Weak systems won’t let you be heard by everyone. Some may distort at high volumes or present poor dynamics as speakers interfere with one another. Worse still, basic systems may lack a way to avoid the ever-dreaded feedback squeal that can turn an attentive audience into one on edge.
For a sound system that can perform in small, intimate venues and scale up to power through at far more demanding settings, JBL’s new line of EON 700 portable, powered PA speakers is built to fit the bill.
JBL is a well-regarded and recognized brand in pro audio with decades of experience delivering equipment to meet the wide variety of needs in the space. The new EON 700 Series continues on this tradition with a handful of powerful, full-range speakers and an epic subwoofer to support them. The speakers are further complemented by JBL’s suite of basic and advanced controls that make managing the sound system a breeze.
JBL offers a range of capable, full-range loudspeakers with the 10-inch woofer on the EON 710, 12-inch EON 712, and 15-inch EON 715. These mighty loudspeakers come bolstered at the high-end by a horn with smooth off-axis beamwidth, helping them achieve a wide frequency response range.
Thanks to refined waveguides, the speakers also deliver broad coverage and wide sweet spots. 2414H compression drivers with neodymium magnets offer balanced response in a lightweight package. All of this comes powered by 1,300 watts of efficient, discrete Class D amplification for clean and clear sound no matter the volume.
With the EON 718S subwoofer, the sound can bump and thump on another level still. JBL’s subwoofer jumps up to 1,500 watts of efficient amplification to deliver smooth and natural bass response down to 31Hz.
The EON 700 Series comes built and tested for the most demanding scenarios. The full-range speakers come built into composite enclosures with injection molding and mechanical shaping for supreme durability, and the subwoofer sits in a 15-ply birch housing with a Duraflex painting. The speakers are all put through JBL’s rigorous 100-hour stress test that sees them pushed far beyond the challenges they’ll face in real-world use.
The durability and power of the EON 700 Series is matched by its versatility. You can run speakers individually, pair them with the sub, stack them, fly them, rig them up, or pole mount them. They feature indexed and molded feet for easy stacking in stand-up or cardioid configurations, not to mention the benefit for storage, and they have multiple mounting points to easily adapt to your installation needs.
Given the variety of setups the EON 700 Series can support, they naturally need advanced controls. Each speaker has a built-in DSP and color LCD screen for easy control of the EQ, limiters, delay, ducking, and dbx Automatic Feedback Suppression system. LED indicator lights on the speakers make it simple to see channel status and signal detection.
If you’ve got a lot of speakers, you can easily manage them all over Bluetooth. With a far-reaching Bluetooth LE connection and the JBL Pro Connect app, you get full control over the speakers internal parameters, an 8-band parametric output EQ, speaker grouping, and whole speaker snapshots. The full-range speakers also feature Bluetooth 5.0 for a high-bandwidth connection to a wireless audio source.
You can learn more about the whole JBL EON 700 Series here , or check out the EON 710 , EON 712 , EON 715 , and EON 718S individually.