Phantom Menace 25th: 9 characters who need a 'From a Certain Point of View' story

The 40th anniversaries of the original Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi were celebrated with From A Certain Point of View short story anthologies. Each book features 40 short stories written by 40 different authors. Instead of seeing the original trilogy through the eyes of prominent characters like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, or Han Solo, these anthologies are primarily told from the perspectives of background characters and those with minimal screen time or dialogue.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace, we can't help but think about perspectives that would be perfect for a From a Certain Point of View anthology for the prequel film. There is currently no confirmation that The Phantom Menace getting a From a Certain Point of View retelling. If the pattern for the original trilogy continues, we will need to wait 15 years for the 40th anniversary, but there's no harm in speculating about perspectives we'd like to see.

1. The sando aqua monster

With past From a Certain Point of View books showcasing stories from the perspective of the dianoga in the Death Star's trash compactor and the sarlacc on Tatooine, it's only fitting that The Phantom Menace should have a story from one of the large sea monsters during the scene where Qui-Gon Jinn famously says, "There's always a bigger fish."

The best point of view would be the sando aqua monster, who proves to be the biggest fish of them all and the only one who doesn't ultimately get eaten during the scene. The sarlacc's story in FACPOV: Return of the Jedi is particularly hilarious and gives a voice and fascinating backstory to the creature. A similar feat could be achieved with the sando aqua monster.

2. Quinlan Vos

The character of Quinlan Vos is based on a background character briefly seen on Tatooine during The Phantom Menace. He became fleshed out in Star Wars Legends and was intended to appear in Revenge of the Sith. While the scene didn't come to fruition, Obi-Wan Kenobi does mention "Master Vos" to Anakin Skywalker during the film.

Vos' most prominent canon appearances are in Christie Golden's novel Dark Disciple and The Clone Wars episode "Hunt for Ziro." He was briefly mentioned when Obi-Wan learned about the Hidden Path in the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series.

It has been established that Vos was on Tatooine as part of an undercover mission and that he recognized Qui-Gon walking past him. However, the nature of his mission is unknown. A story from his point of view could reveal his mission and what he was thinking as he saw Qui-Gon.

Another compelling layer to this scene is that in addition to seeing Qui-Gon, Vos sees young Anakin Skywalker saving Jar Jar Binks. After Qui-Gon, Vos is the first Jedi to have seen the Chosen One, who would bring about the destruction of the Jedi Order and eventually bring balance to the Force. Vos doesn't know all this, but it would be intriguing to know his thoughts when seeing Anakin, and when seeing Qui-Gon and Anakin interact.

3. Sabé

Sabé gets more screen time and dialogue than the average FACPOV character in The Phantom Menace. However, most of that screen time and dialogue is as a decoy pretending to be Queen Amidala.

In the novel trilogy Queen's Shadow, Queen's Peril, and Queen's Hope, author E.K. Johnston does a tremendous job giving Sabé her own voice, personality, and motivations. It would be great to see that continue by seeing one or more of The Phantom Menace scenes directly from Sabé's point of view.

Sabé having to be the one to say she will travel to Coruscant with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, appealing to Boss Nass for an alliance before Padmé reveals her true identity, and tricking Nute Gunray during the Battle of Naboo would be particularly great scenes to see from her point of view.

After writing from the perspective of Enric Pryde in Shadow of the Sith, Adam Christopher wrote a story from Pryde's perspective in FACPOV: Return of the Jedi, as did Mike Chen with Anakin after writing the Anakin and Obi-Wan novel Brotherhood. As such, if Sabé gets a story in the hypothetical FACPOV: The Phantom Menace, Johnston should be the one to write it.

4. Ben Quadinaros (or any podracer other than Anakin Skywalker or Sebulba)

Just as Chalmun's Cantina and Jabba's Palace were a gold mine for background and minor characters in previous FACPOV books, the Boonta Eve Classic podrace is a gold mine for this in The Phantom Menace. Other than Anakin or Sebulba, who receive most of the focus during the race, it would be fun to get the perspective of any of the other podracers.

There would likely be room for multiple podracer stories, but if there can only be one, my vote is for Ben Quadinaros. There is something tragic about seeing his enthusiasm before the race juxtaposed with his frustration at his podracer malfunctioning and exploding. He never got a chance to even participate in the race, and while this is played for comedy, a tale capturing his panic and disappointment could work quite well.

5. Jabba the Hutt

Jabba the Hutt presides over the Boonta Eve Classic and is the one to officially signal the start of the race. Still, he falls asleep during it and has to be woken up by Bib Fortuna when it is over. There is some focus on Jabba during The Clone Wars, especially in The Clone Wars movie and the episodes concerning Ziro the Hutt, but his role is more minimal during the earlier years of the prequel era.

Getting Jabba's point of view during the Boonta Eve Classic could lend more insight into his mind and the state of the criminal underworld during The Phantom Menace. With Jabba falling asleep, there is also potential to have the story revolve around what Jabba dreams about, an equally bizarre and frightening possibility that could make for a great story.

6. Weazel

In addition to playing Wicket the Ewok in numerous projects, Warwick Davis has appeared in many other Star Wars films. This includes The Phantom Menace, where he plays a character named Weazel who can be seen in the crowd near Watto during the Boonta Eve Classic, with Weazel clearly rooting on Sebulba.

19 years after the release of The Phantom Menace, Weazel reappeared on the big screen in Solo: A Star Wars Story. At this point in the timeline, Weazel is a member of Enfys Nest's Cloud-Riders. A FACPOV story could plant the seeds for the evolution from the kind of person who roots for Sebulba and takes pleasure in the misfortunate of a nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker to the freedom fighter Weazel will one day become.

Davis has contributed a great deal over the years not only to Star Wars but to Lucasfilm, as he played the titular role of Willow in the 1988 movie and the sequel television series. Wicket had a story in FACPOV: Return of the Jedi, and, if FACPOV is going to continue, it only seems right to continue doing stories from the eyes of Davis' many characters.

7. Tuskens shooting at the podracers

The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have done a great deal to flesh out the Tuskens and their culture, making them far more nuanced than their depictions in the original and prequel trilogies. With that in mind, it would be interesting to get a story from the perspective of the Tuskens shooting at the podracers during the Boonta Eve Classic.

Understanding the motivations behind their actions would be worthwhile. Along with their development in the Disney+ television series, there is the fact that Anakin is in the podrace, and a decade later, he will slaughter the tribe of Tuskens who kidnap his mother, Shmi Skywalker.

8. Yarael Poof

Since Yoda, Mace Windu, and Ki-Adi-Mundi are the only members of the Jedi Council to speak during The Phantom Menace, there could arguably be a story from the perspective of any of the other Jedi Council members. However, after reading The Living Force by John Jackson Miller, Yarael Poof seems like the best option.

Miller writes Poof in a way that is hilarious and endearing. Poof has been on the Jedi Council for centuries and is at a point where he enjoys messing with others in a lighthearted way, including the ever-serious Ki-Adi-Mundi, whom he is paired up with for much of The Living Force.

It would be delightful to know what Poof is thinking as his neck sways back and forth during the Jedi Council scenes in The Phantom Menace, from his thoughts on Qui-Gon declaring that this boy he's just discovered is the Chosen One, to Ki-Adi-Mundi confidently saying the Sith have been extinct for a millennium. Miller would be the perfect person to write such a story from Poof's perspective, building off The Living Force.

9. Mas Amedda

Before becoming a close advisor to Chancellor Sheev Palpatine during the final years of the Republic and Grand Vizier of the Galactic Empire, Mas Amedda was Vice Chair of the Senate during the reign of Palpatine's predecessor, Chancellor Finis Valorum.

Amedda is present and carrying out his duties as Vice Chair when a Vote of No Confidence is issued. This ousts Valorum from the chancellorship and paves the way for Palpatine's ascension. Considering Amedda's future trajectory, it would be fascinating to know what he is thinking during the Vote of No Confidence and to see the full extent to which he coordinates with Palpatine to undermine Valorum and expedite Palpatine's rise to power.