Editing Jar Jar Binks (section)

== Conception ==
[[George Lucas]] was inspired to develop Jar Jar based on the Disney character [[Goofy]].<ref name="cinemablend.com">{{cite web |last=Schwerdtfeger |first=Conner |title=Jar Jar Binks Was Inspired By This Classic Disney Character |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Jar-Jar-Binks-Was-Inspired-By-Classic-Disney-Character-77507.html |work=Cinemablend |date=December 18, 2015 |access-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref> Singer [[Michael Jackson]] wanted to play the role, but wished to portray the character using [[Prosthetic makeup|prosthetics]] while Lucas wanted him to be all CGI.<ref name=nme/>{{efn|[[Ahmed Best]], who would end up playing the character, later hypothesized that Lucas might have felt uncomfortable with the thought of the singer's casting overshadowing the actual movie.<ref name=nme>{{cite web|last1=Britton|first1=Luke Morgan|title=Michael Jackson wanted to play Jar Jar Binks in 'Star Wars'|url=https://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/michael-jackson-wanted-to-play-jar-jar-binks-in-st/383799|website=[[NME]]|date=July 23, 2015|access-date=December 14, 2015}}</ref>}} [[Ahmed Best]] was cast based on his work in the production of ''[[Stomp (theatrical show)|Stomp]]'', as Lucas wanted someone athletic for the role.<ref name=Vicejarjar>{{cite web|last1=Godfrey|first1=Gavin|title=The Actor Who Played Jar Jar Binks Is Not Sorry|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ahmed-best-jar-jar-binks-interview/|magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|publisher=[[Vice Media]]|location=New York City|date=July 23, 2015|access-date=December 14, 2015}}</ref> During his audition he performed several [[martial arts]] moves and flips, which according to Best was a contrast to how Lucas pictured the character, more in line with comedic silent actors such as [[Buster Keaton]].<ref name=Vicejarjar/> After Lucas walked out of the audition, Best felt he had failed it.<ref name=Vicejarjar/> [[Terryl Whitlatch]] created the final designs for the "cowardly and insecure" character.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Making of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace|last1=Bouzereau|first1=Laurent|first2=Jody|last2=Duncan|year=1999|publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]|location=New York City|isbn=0-345-43111-1|pages=18, 25}}</ref>

Best wore a prosthetic costume to portray Jar Jar, which cost about $100,000 and served as a reference for the actors to interact with, animators to base the performance on, and digital artists to match the lighting.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace ''featurette'': The Beginning: Making Episode I|medium=DVD|publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|year=2001|time=40}}</ref> He was the first [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] supporting character in a live-action film,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2017/10/31/jar-jar-binks-actor-claims-his-role-in-cinema-history-has-been-forgotten/|title=Jar Jar Binks Actor Claims His Role In Cinema History Has Been Forgotten|last=Placido|first=Dani Di|magazine=[[Forbes]]|date=October 31, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> although in a small number of shots (such as those only showing the character's hands or feet), the costume was not replaced with CGI.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace ''audio commentary''|medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Entertainment|year=2001|time=49, 79}}</ref>