Summary
- Samuel L. Jackson's role as Mace Windu in Star Wars was significant and played a big part in his acting career.
- The prop team gave Jackson a personalized lightsaber as a gift when he finished filming Episode III.
- There is a chance that Jackson could return to the Star Wars franchise in some capacity in the future.
Samuel L. Jackson has played many iconic roles over the years, but Star Wars was one that he wasn't sure he would ever land. Yet he put out the word that he was interested, and eventually, George Lucas got in touch. That resulted in more than a decade of involvement in the franchise (though not always in the main films).
When Jackson was preparing to leave the franchise, the prop team offered him a unique gift, though not so unique in what it was. After all, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson also took home lightsabers from the Star Wars set; McGregor even hinted that he stole his, while Neeson stated that his was a gift. But Samuel's was something special, and not because he custom-ordered (or stole) it.
Samuel L. Jackson Played Mace Windu In Star Wars
Samuel L. Jackson debuted as Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in 1999. Looking at his career now, the role of a Jedi wasn't exactly what Jackson became famous for, but the role was a significant part of his acting resume.
Jackson would go on to appear in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones as well as Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, and he also voiced his character in a handful of animated Star Wars projects, too.
Jackson would also return to the franchise in some sense, lending his voice to Windu in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.
But during Episode III, Jackson's Windu died, so the cast and crew likely assumed he wouldn't be returning. That was when he received a heartfelt and hilarious gift from the crew.
The Prop Crew Customized A Souvenir For Samuel L. Jackson
Just about everyone loves Samuel L. Jackson, so it wasn't a surprise to hear that the Star Wars prop team did something special for him when filming finished on Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy sat down to debunk some myths with Samuel, and the subject of his custom lightsaber—among other things—came up.
First, Jimmy asked if it was true that Samuel refused to do multiple takes while filming, which Samuel agreed was not a myth. He wanted creative control, he explained, because if production got to do retakes, then ultimately, they could choose their 'favorite,' instead of letting Samuel's original performance speak for itself.
That myth confirmed, Jimmy then asked Samuel whether it was true that he asked the prop team to engrave his lightsaber with a specific acronym.
For those who didn't already know, Samuel L. Jackson is famous for saying a specific explicit phrase in numerous films, but primarily in the cult classic Pulp Fiction. The phrase has since earned Jackson a specific label. That label became the acronym "BMF."
As far as whether it was true or not, Samuel's reply was, "No, they did that because they loved me. I didn't ask for it." He described receiving the lightsaber when filming ended, and the acronym was there, but not because he ever asked them to.
When Jimmy asked what the acronym meant, Samuel replied, "Bad, My Friend."
During that same interview, Jackson was also flabbergasted to learn that he wasn't the highest-ranked in a unique contest that considered actors cursing in their movies. Given his penchant for using "MF," so much so that the Star Wars crew memorialized his lightsaber with it, Samuel was right to be surprised.
Do Star Wars Actors Keep Their Lightsabers?
It's been confirmed that Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson, in addition to Samuel L. Jackson, all kept their lightsabers from Star Wars. However, because many of the lightsabers didn't survive their films (originally, they were rather flimsy and broke easily), it's not clear which model of lightsaber each actor may have. It could also be that some actors have multiple lightsabers or even recreations of the props they used on the set.
The shift in design over time also allowed Samuel L. Jackson to request—and be granted—a purple lightsaber blade, the first of its kind.
Will Samuel L. Jackson Return To Star Wars?
Samuel L. Jackson's character did die in Star Wars, which might have been the reason why the crew gave him a proper token of appreciation afterward. However, there's still a chance that Jackson could return to the franchise, even as the ill-fated Mace Windu.
Jackson never expected to be a Jedi, though; he would have been happy enough if George Lucas had let him be a stormtrooper. At this point, with Disney's official Star Wars account wishing Jackson a happy birthday one year and hinting that the 'party isn't over,' fans can only assume Samuel will return to the franchise in some capacity, and happily at that.
