I Can't Believe George Lucas Cut This Deleted Scene From The Phantom Menace

Summary A deleted scene from The Phantom Menace gives context to why Qui-Gon and Anakin were running back to their ship on Tatooine.

The scene shows Qui-Gon spotting a probe droid, explaining their haste in returning to Obi-Wan before the Darth Maul attack.

The deleted scene highlights a plot hole with the probe droid's proximity to the Jedi, despite adding crucial context to the film.

One deleted scene from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace was inexplicably cut by director George Lucas. With 2024 being the 25th anniversary of the first prequel movie, The Phantom Menace is receiving much attention of late. The first chronological movie in Star Wars, The Phantom Menace explored the Jedi origins of Anakin Skywalker all while delving deeper into the mystery of the Sith. Since the film's release, modern Star Wars has rewritten The Phantom Menace's story somewhat, thanks to differing perspectives on the film.

That said, much of what The Phantom Menace explored remains the same two decades later. This includes the scenes I admittedly find more nonsensical in the movie. One such scene that I have always found strange comes midway through the film, with Anakin and Qui-Gon - played by Jake Lloyd and Liam Neeson in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace's cast - desperately running back to their ship on Tatooine before being attacked by Darth Maul. With the renewed attention in the film, a deleted scene has resurfaced connected to this strange moment which I cannot believe was cut by George Lucas.

Related Recasting Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 25 Years Later If The Phantom Menace was made today, it would have a very different cast, and there are some contemporary actors who would be perfect for Star Wars.

This TPM Deleted Scene Finally Explains Why Qui-Gon & Anakin Are Running

The Deleted Phantom Menace Scene Adds Much-Needed Context To A Scene I've Always Found Out Of Place

Custom Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

As I alluded to, the scene in The Phantom Menace shows Qui-Gon and Anakin running back to their Naboo cruiser in the Tatooine desert. Qui-Gon turns and tells Anakin to drop, kickstarting the first skirmish with Darth Maul. The scene has always stood out to me as one that makes little sense; why Qui-Gon and Anakin were running was always left unexplored, and the quick introduction and brief battle with Darth Maul felt rushed. It would make sense that Qui-Gon and Anakin were running from Maul, though nothing was established prior to this to hint they knew of the Sith Lord's presence.

However, 25 years after the film's initial release, I may finally have the missing piece of the puzzle. A deleted scene from the movie has surfaced online which takes place before the Maul battle, showing Qui-Gon and Anakin leaving Mos Espa. Qui-Gon notices a probe droid, one unleashed by Maul earlier, behind him. Qui-Gon turns and slashes the probe droid, noting its foreboding nature. This prompts Qui-Gon and Anakin to quicken their pace in returning to Obi-Wan, explaining why they were running to their ship in the scene from The Phantom Menace's final cut.

Why Would The Probe Droid Come So Close To The Jedi?

Anakin's Presence Allowed Qui-Gon To Destroy The Probe Droid

While this deleted scene explains why Qui-Gon and Anakin were running to their ship, it does raise another plot hole of sorts. While I think the deleted scene should have been left in the movie for context's sake, it begs the question of why the probe droid came so dangerously close to Qui-Gon in the first place. Despite this glaring error in the scene, it could be explained using a degree of common sense.

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When Maul released the probe droids, he likely programmed them to look for a singular Jedi in Qui-Gon, or a pair of Jedi if Obi-Wan Kenobi was with him. The probe droid would not have been looking for a man and a young boy, with Anakin accompanying Qui-Gon throwing off its search. This could explain why it moved so close to Qui-Gon, allowing the primary Jedi of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace to dispatch it with ease in the deleted scene that I still cannot believe George Lucas removed.