Darth Maul is a fictional character in the science fiction saga Star Wars. He one of the main antagonists of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by martial artist Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz.

In the film, Maul serves as the apprentice of Darth Sidious, a mysterious Sith Lord who is manipulating galactic events from behind the scenes. Wielding a double-bladed lightsaber and trained as a master of lightsaber combat, Maul serves as a personal assassin for Darth Sidious, having been sent to eliminate Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, two of the film's protagonists.

Appearances[link]

[edit] Star Wars films

Darth Maul appears in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as the apprentice of Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who sends him to capture Queen Padmé Amidala and eliminate the two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. During the film's climactic scene, he stabs Qui-Gon in the stomach with his lightsaber, fatally injuring him during the duel. He then knocks Obi-Wan into a reactor chasm; at the last minute, however, Obi-Wan uses the Force to propel himself out of the chasm, equipping himself with his master's lightsaber. Obi-Wan quickly cuts Maul in half from the waist. Maul's body separates into two pieces and falls into the chasm.^[3]

Maul's murder of Qui-Gon places the responsibility of Anakin Skywalker's training into Obi-Wan's hands, setting the stage for the rest of the prequel trilogy.^[3]

2008 animated series[link]

Maul's origins were elaborated on in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an animated series set between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Maul is described as a warrior of the Nightbrother clan on the planet Dathomir, who inhabit the planet alongside the dominant Nightsister clans, a society of women who practice witchcraft and led by Mother Talzin. The tattoos covering his body are described as the markings of a warrior, in contrast to earlier sources which identify his bodyart as the markings of a Sith Lord. Maul was also aware of Darth Sidious's master plan involving the Clone Wars.^[4] He also has two brothers: Feral and Savage Opress, with the former dead while the latter became entangled in a power struggle between his brother's Sith successor, Count Dooku, and Dooku's former apprentice and Nightsister, Asajj Ventress.

Having survived his bisection in The Phantom Menace, striving to survive by any means, Maul ended up on a junk planet called Lotho Minor in the Outer Rim and turned into a cyborg with an arachnid-like lower half. Over the decade, Maul's mind sank into a melancholy insanity before he was found by his only living brother, Savage Opress. Opress's presence causes Maul to remember his downfall by Obi-Wan and resolves to have his revenge. Brought back to Dathomir, in the aftermath of the Nightsisters' slaughter by Dooku's forces, Maul underwent a ritualistic purging of his madness while donning a new pair of robot legs crafted by Mother Talzin's magic. With his mind restored, and with Opress's help, Maul proceeds to lure Obi-Wan into a trap by attacking innocents. However, the unexpected appearance of Asajj Ventress delays Maul's revenge. Kenobi and Ventress duel Maul and Opress in the cargo bay of Opress's stolen ship, but soon realize that they are outmatched and are forced to flee via the cockpit. Maul then decides to not pursue the jettisoned pod and wait for another opportunity to present itself.^[5].

Darth Maul and Savage Opress are set to return in the premiere episodes of the fifth season of The Clone Wars.

[edit] Star Wars literature

As portrayed in the novel Darth Plagueis, Darth Plagueis sends his apprentice Darth Sidious to the Force-rich world of Dathomir as a way of denying him his craving to visit a Force-rich Sith homeworld. A Dathomiri witch, or Nightsister, senses Palpatine's Force ability and approaches him. She assumes he is a Jedi and begs him to take her Zabrak infant son who is tatooed in red and black. She realizes Palpatine is not a Jedi and explains how she is trying to save him from the threat of a Nightsister mother named Talzin so he can live freely. Maul's father was killed by tradition. It is implied that Maul has a twin brother and that Talzin is only aware of one child. Palpatine realizes the infant is strong in the Force and that the risk is too great for him to be found by the Jedi.

As portrayed in the novel Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, Maul is kidnapped from his Jedi training by Sidious at an early age, and is trained as a Sith, having Sith tattoos put all over his body. Maul initially goes on countless missions of terror for his master, killing politicians, crime bosses, merchants, and warlords.

Several sources depict Maul returning from the dead in several different forms. The story "Resurrection" from Star Wars Tales 9 depicts a duplicate of Darth Maul created by a cult via an unspecified process, with the cult intending for Maul to replace Darth Vader as they believe that Vader is too tainted by his past as Anakin Skywalker to be a true Sith, only for the new Maul to be killed by Vader. The story "Phantom Menaces" in Star Wars Tales #17 depicts a post-Return of the Jedi Luke Skywalker visiting Maul's home planet of Iridonia in an ambassadorial capacity, where he faces a "solid state hologram" of Darth Maul projected from Maul's salvaged brain as part of a scientist's attempt to recreate Maul as Iridonia's 'champion', Luke shutting down the life-support systems keeping the brain alive as he recognises the disruption that Maul's existence is causing in the Force.

In 2005, Dark Horse Comics published Star Wars: Visionaries, a compilation of comic art short stories written and illustrated by members of the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith art department and ILM artists. One story, "Old Wounds", considered to be non-canonical to Star Wars lore, depicts Darth Maul surviving his bisection at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi, replacing his missing bottom half with cybernetic replacements. He then follows Obi-Wan throughout the galaxy, finally tracking him down on Tatooine a few years after the events of Revenge of the Sith. He engages Obi-Wan in a lightsaber duel, but is killed by a blaster bolt to the head from Owen Lars, Luke Skywalker's adoptive uncle.

In early 2012, a young adult biography of Darth Maul entitled Star Wars: The Wrath of Darth Maul was released by Scholastic.

In Other Media[link]

Darth Maul appears in a Brisk commercial, fighting Yoda to support The Phantom Menace in 3D. He claims to have been at a wild party the night before, which causes his lightsaber to malfunction. He crashes into a Brisk vending machine, jumps up, and yells, "Double saber delicious!" before getting crushed by the vending machine.

Characteristics[link]

Concept and creation[link]

Series creator George Lucas had described Darth Maul as "a figure from your worst nightmare". Designer Iain McCaig thus offered Lucas a design based on a nightmare of his, which was rejected, but later inspired the Nightsister Sith witch in later Star Wars tales. One day McCaig was trying to make "Sith lord versions" of the art department crew, and drew David Dozoretz, head of the animations group, with a circuit board on his face. Lucas was intrigued by the circuit board idea, and McCaig started producing similar caricatures.

After getting frustrated with a drawing of production designer Gavin Bocquet, McCaig started covering it in tape. Both he and Lucas liked the result, described as "a kind of Rorschach pattern". The final drawing had McCaig's own face, with a pattern based on three things: a concept of a "flayed flesh face", face-painting of African tribes and further Rorschach experimentation (dropping ink onto paper, folding it in half then opening).^[6]

Darth Maul's head originally had feathers, based on prayer totems, but the Creature Effects crew led by Nick Dudman interpreted those feathers as horns, modifying his features into those common in popular Christian and other depictions of the Devil.^[7] Maul's clothing was also modified, from a tight body suit with a muscle pattern to the Sith robe based on samurai pleats, because the lightsaber battles involved much jumping and spinning.^[6] Another concept had Maul a masked figure, something that could rival Darth Vader, while the senatorial characters would sport painted and tattooed faces. It was later decided to apply this to Maul rather than the senate.^[8]

Portrayal[link]

For Darth Maul's first appearance in The Phantom Menace, he was played by Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz in the movie, as well as Lego Star Wars: The Video Game. For the video game adaptation of the movie, he was played by Gregg Berger. He was played by Jess Harnell in Star Wars: Racer Revenge, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds and Star Wars: Demolition. He was played by Stephen Stanton in Star Wars: Battlefront II and by Clint Bajakian in Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing. He also made an appearance as a CGI character in two additional Star Wars video games: As a PROXY training hologram in Star Wars The Force Unleashed and also in Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron, where his voice was provided by David W. Collins. He is played by actor Sam Witwer on Star Wars The Clone Wars.

Popular culture[link]

Since the release of The Phantom Menace, Maul has proven to be a popular character. IGN named Darth Maul the 16th greatest Star Wars character, noting, "Of the countless characters to walk in and out of the Star Wars saga, none look or act more badass than Darth Maul."^[9]

Darth Maul related merchandise was popular among Hasbro Star Wars toy lines, with plastic recreations of his double bladed lightsaber and various action figures in his likeness developed. Darth Maul has been the focal point of the toy marketing campaign surrounding the 2012 re-release of The Phantom Menace, being featured on the packaging for the toy line.^[10] Maul's double-bladed lightsaber has influenced several homages and parodies, including an appearance in The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror X and a similar weapon being featured in the video game series Ratchet and Clank. Darth Maul was also an unlockable character in the Video Game, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

References[link]

Star Wars portal

External links[link]

• Darth Maul in the Star Wars Databank
• Darth Maul on Wookieepedia: a Star Wars Wiki

Star Wars portal

Qui-Gon Jinn, portrayed by Liam Neeson, is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is the main protagonist of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. He also appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe of comic books, video games, and novels. In Star Wars fiction, Qui-Gon is best known as the mentor of the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, as well as the one who discovers Anakin Skywalker, who later becomes Darth Vader.

Depiction[link]

Qui-Gon is introduced in The Phantom Menace as a wise and powerful Jedi Master and the teacher of the 25-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi. Unlike other, more conservative Jedi, he values living in the moment as the best way to embrace the Force. While other Jedi respect him highly, they are frequently puzzled by his unorthodox beliefs, and ultimately deny him a seat on the Jedi Council despite perhaps being the most qualified of the Jedi (other than Yoda).^[1] Obi-Wan remarks that Qui-Gon has been in conflict with the Council several times in the past.

Attack of the Clones reveals that he was trained in the ways of the Jedi by Count Dooku.^[2] In Revenge of the Sith, Master Yoda reveals to Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon's spirit has learned the secret of becoming one with the Force, which he teaches to both Yoda and Obi-Wan.^[3] In Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, both Obi-Wan ,Yoda and a redeemed Anakin are shown to have fully mastered this ability after their deaths.

[edit] The Phantom Menace

In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent to the planet Naboo to resolve a political crisis. The corrupt Trade Federation, in protest to recent taxation laws, had blockaded the planet with a fleet of battleships. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent as ambassadors of Chancellor Finis Valorum to reach a peaceful settlement.

Shortly after their arrival, the Federation's Neimoidian viceroy Nute Gunray has their starship destroyed and attempts to gas them on orders from the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who is using the Federation as pawns in a larger scheme to take over the Galactic Republic. The two Jedi survive the gas and easily defeat the battle droids assigned to reinforce the chamber entrance. Qui-Gon tries to cut through the bridge's blast doors with his lightsaber, but the arrival of Federation droidekas force him and his apprentice to escape and they stow away on troop transports invading Naboo.

On Naboo, Qui-Gon saves the life of a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks, earning his eternal debt in the process. Jar Jar agrees to take the two Jedi to the Gungan underwater city of Otoh Gunga, where its ruler Boss Nass gives them transport to the Naboo capital city of Theed and allows Jar Jar to go with the offworlders as a guide. Once in Theed, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan rescue Naboo's ruler, Queen Padmé Amidala, and escape on the royal starship. As they dash through the Federation's blockade, however, the ship is hit by laser fire and the hyperdrive is badly damaged. The party is forced to land on the desert planet Tatooine to make repairs.

On Tatooine, Qui-Gon searches for parts in the settlement of Mos Espa, where he encounters a nine-year-old slave named Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi Master comes to believe that the boy, who is exceptionally strong in the Force, may be the "Chosen One" of Jedi legend destined to bring balance to the Force. Qui-Gon helps liberate Anakin from slavery when he wagers with the boy's Toydarian owner, Watto, on his victory in the Boonta Eve Classic podrace. However, the Sith Lord Darth Maul intercepts them as they approach the Queen's repaired starship. Qui-Gon orders Anakin to get onboard while he engages Maul in a lightsaber duel. Using the Force, Qui-Gon manages to leap onto the ship's extended landing ramp as it takes off, leaving the Sith Lord behind.

On Coruscant, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan return to the Jedi Temple and appear before the Council to give an update on the status of their mission. There, Qui-Gon expresses his belief that Anakin is the "Chosen One," and the Council reluctantly agree to test the boy for Jedi potential. They find that the boy is indeed very strong with the Force, having the greatest midi-chlorian count ever recorded, but say he is too old to begin the training. Yoda senses that the boy's future is "clouded" by the fear he exhibits. Qui-Gon protests the Council's decision, stating that he would take Anakin as his Padawan in light of the fact that Obi-Wan is ready to face the trials. The argument is put on hold as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are then ordered by the Council to return with Queen Amidala to Naboo and liberate the planet from the Trade Federation's control. On the way, Obi-Wan protests Qui-Gon's decision to push for the boy's training. Qui-Gon tells Anakin that while he is not allowed to train him, he wants Anakin to stay close to him and pay attention.

During the Battle of Naboo, the two Jedi once again encounter and fight Darth Maul in another lightsaber duel inside the Theed Palace's power generator complex. After Obi-Wan is briefly isolated from the duel via a row of impenetrable laser walls, Maul mortally wounds Qui-Gon, but Obi-Wan, in turn, cuts the Sith Lord in two with Qui-Gon's own lightsaber, leaving him for dead (Maul comes back in the animated series to get revenge in Obi-Wan). With his dying words, Qui-Gon requests Obi-Wan to train Anakin, to which his apprentice agrees upon being promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight for his victory over a Sith Lord. Following this, the Jedi Master's body is cremated in a traditional Jedi funeral.^[4]

[edit] Attack of the Clones

In Episode II, when Yoda senses Anakin's slaughter of the Tuskens after the death of his mother, Qui-Gon's voice is heard shouting "Anakin! Anakin!" immediately before Anakin's "Noooo!" echoes through the Force. According to the novelization, it is the first time that Yoda encounters the spirit of a Jedi who has passed into the Force.

[edit] Revenge of the Sith

In Episode III, Qui-Gon is mentioned by Yoda, that he found immortality, and had returned from the netherworld of the Force. He reappeared to teach Yoda and Obi-Wan of this, and teaches Obi-Wan about it in his exile on Tatooine.

Expanded Universe[link]

[edit] Jedi Apprentice

Qui-Gon's life prior to Episode I is mainly detailed in the Jedi Apprentice book series. In The Rising Force, set 12 years before The Phantom Menace, Yoda encourages Qui-Gon to take a new Padawan learner, following the failure of his previous apprentice, Xanatos, who turned to the dark side of the Force years before. Qui-Gon observes a small lightsaber tournament among a group of the Temple's older students, which includes the 12-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi. He takes notice of Obi-Wan's skills, but also of the boy's uncontrolled anger, and refuses to train him. Shortly following the tournament, the Jedi Master leaves for a mission to the planet Bandomeer. On the transport ship, Qui-Gon is reunited with Obi-Wan, who is also being sent to Bandomeer to begin life as an agricultural labourer. During the voyage, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan help defend a group of Arcona from the criminal organization Offworld Corporation. After putting an end to the tense situation, the two arrive on Bandomeer, where Qui-Gon receives a letter signed by his former apprentice, Xanatos.^[5] In The Dark Rival, it is revealed that the whole ordeal has been organized by Xanatos, now the leader of Offworld. Qui-Gon sends Obi-Wan off to his Agri-Corps duties, while he plans to meet with Xanatos to find an agreement between Offworld and Bandomeer. However, Xanatos plans to sabotage their meeting and kill Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master duels with his former apprentice, and he and Obi-Wan end Offworld's business on Bandomeer. Xanatos escapes, however. During the encounter with Xanatos, Qui-Gon discovers Obi-Wan's true potential and accepts the boy as his new Padawan. As a gift for Obi-Wan's 13th birthday, Qui-Gon gives his apprentice a special rock he found from the River of Light on his homeworld.^[6] In The Captive Temple, Xanatos attacks the Jedi Temple and nearly assassinates Yoda, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan thwart his plans, and in The Day of Reckoning, when they chase Xanatos back to his homeworld Telos, the fallen Jedi refuses to surrender and commits suicide. Qui-Gon is thus able to bring closure to a painful chapter of his life.^[7][8]

Other novels[link]

In Legacy of the Jedi, set during both Qui-Gon's Padawan and Master years, Qui-Gon and his master Count Dooku are sent to accompany Senator Blix Annon on a diplomatic assignment. However, space pirates infiltrate their ship, and their leader turns out to be a rogue Jedi named Lorian Nod, who was a close friend of Dooku's. The two battle and Dooku lets his anger get the best of him, but Qui-Gon prevents his master from violating the Jedi Code by committing cold-blooded murder. Years after their first encounter, Qui-Gon, along with Obi-Wan, again encounters Nod, and once again the fallen Jedi is incarcerated for his crimes.^[9]

In Secrets of the Jedi, set seven years before The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are paired with Jedi Master Adi Gallia and her Padawan Siri Tachi. The mission, which results in Qui-Gon and Adi being separated from Obi-Wan and Siri, leads to the discovery of romantic feelings between the two Jedi Padawans. Qui-Gon detects these emotions and warns Obi-Wan of his own example with Tahl, a female Jedi, whose murder nearly pushed him over the edge to the dark side.^[10]

In Cloak of Deception, set a year before The Phantom Menace, both Jedi fight against a terrorist organization called the Nebula Front, who are secretly following the orders of Darth Sidious. At the Trade Federation conference on Eriadu, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan successfully defend Chancellor Finis Valorum, but do not prevent the deaths of the rest of the Trade Federation Directorate, allowing the Neimoidians to take control of the Federation.^[11]

[edit] Clone Wars (2003)

In the canonical animated microseries Star Wars: Clone Wars, Qui-Gon's face is briefly seen during Anakin's duel with the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress on Yavin IV. Later, Qui-Gon, voiced by Fred Tatasciore, makes a full cameo appearance in a dream sequence, in which he tells a circa Episode I Anakin to enter a mysterious cave, where the boy will see a vision of his future.^[12]

[edit] The Clone Wars (2008)

In the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Qui-Gon is mentioned a few times, first by Obi-Wan, describing a mission they had gone on while he was still Qui-Gon's apprentice, and again by Padmé, referring to Qui-Gon's death during a speech about the damage war does to life and society. Later during a three-part episode, Qui-Gon appears as a Force ghost twice; first to Obi-Wan and later to Anakin when they, along with Anakin's Padawan Ahsoka Tano, are trapped on the mysterious planet Mortis. Liam Neeson reprised his role for these appearances in the series.

In comic books[link]

Aside from the graphic novelization of The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon appears infrequently in Star Wars-related comic books. His most extensive appearance thus far is in the "Stark Hyperspace War" plotline in Star Wars: Republic. In this story arc, which takes place during the same year Qui-Gon takes Obi-Wan as his apprentice, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fight in the titular conflict along with other Jedi such as Plo Koon and Quinlan Vos, and Qui-Gon ends up saving Nute Gunray, the future Trade Federation viceroy.^[13]

In video games[link]

Qui-Gon has also appeared in several Star Wars video games. These games include Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Jedi Power Battles, Star Wars: Obi-Wan, and the Lego Star Wars games. He also appears as a character skin (via purchased download content) in The Force Unleashed. He has been voiced by James Warwick in most games.

Behind the scenes[link]

As revealed in The Art of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, director George Lucas conceived the character of Qui-Gon Jinn during pre-production of the film. This is shown by concept art where Obi-Wan Kenobi is shown alone in the Trade Federation flagship and while meeting Jar Jar Binks. Even when Qui-Gon was conceived, Lucas toyed with making him the younger Jedi, as shown in concept art depicting Obi-Wan as an old man. Lucas originally envisioned an American actor for the role of Qui-Gon, but ultimately cast Liam Neeson, who is Northern Irish, because he considered Neeson to have great skills and presence, describing him as a "master actor, who the other actors will look up to, who has got the qualities of strength that the character demands."^[14] Initially, Lucas had planned for Qui-Gon to have long white hair, but that idea was scrapped and in the film Qui-Gon is depicted as having long brown hair. For various fight scenes of the film, including the lightsaber duels, British actor Andrew Lawden served as Neeson's body double.

References[link]

• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Novelization, 1st edition paperback, 1999. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Novelization - Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
• Star Wars Episode I Who's Who: A Pocket Guide to Characters of the Phantom Menace, hardcover, 1999. Ryder Windham, ISBN 0-7624-0519-8
• The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
• Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1999. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-7894-4701-0
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, 1st edition, 2000. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, ISBN 0-7869-1793-8

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Qui-Gon Jinn

• Qui-Gon Jinn in the Star Wars Databank
• Qui-Gon Jinn on Wookieepedia: a Star Wars Wiki

Ray Park
Park in June 2011
Born	Raymond Park (1974-08-23) 23 August 1974 (age 37) Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
Occupation	Actor, stuntman, martial artist
Years active	1997–present
Website
http://www.raypark.com

Raymond "Ray" Park (born 23 August 1974) is a British actor, stuntman and martial artist, best known for playing Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Toad in X-Men, Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,^[1][2] and Edgar on Heroes.^[3]

Early life[link]

Park was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He was brought up in Govan, Glasgow, where he was educated at Greenfield Primary School, until the age of 7. His family then moved to London. Park has a brother and a sister.

Park was introduced to martial arts by his father, who was a fan of Bruce Lee, and began training in the traditional Chinese Northern Shaolin Kung Fu when he was seven years old. He added kickboxing and wushu to his hobbies by age 14. When he was 16, Park won Great Britain's Martial Arts National Championship for his class^{[citation needed]} and then went to Malaysia to try to improve his skills. He went on to compete in martial arts tournaments around the world and brought home awards before turning his attention to acting in the late 1990s.^{[4][unreliable source?]}

Career[link]

Park in June 2011

He began working in films as a stunt double for the film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, doing the stunts for both Robin Shou and James Remar. Park also did some cameos as monsters, including Baraka. All of these were non-speaking roles.^[5]

In 1999, Park appeared in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, as the Sith Apprentice Darth Maul. While the character had a few lines, Park's voice was dubbed over with that of actor Peter Serafinowicz. From his work on Star Wars, Park was cast in a cameo role in Fanboys as a Skywalker Ranch security guard who says, "Time for you to get mauled, boy," as he pulls out two nightsticks.

In addition to this acting work, he has also been Christopher Walken's fight stunt double for the film Sleepy Hollow. Park appeared in the scene where Walken's character, the Headless Horseman, murders the Killian family and Brom Bones.^[6]

Park had his first real speaking part in X-Men as Toad. In one scene of this film, after sending Storm (Halle Berry) down an elevator shaft, he picks up a length of pipe and swings it around in much the same way he swung his dual-bladed lightsaber as Darth Maul, a signature wushu move.

Park has been asked to become a superhero, instead of a villain, in a film about Marvel Comics character Iron Fist, but the film has been in preproduction for some years now. Iron Fist deals with an American millionaire who becomes a martial artist with the power of focusing his "life force" or chi into his fist, making it glow with energy and become "like unto a thing of iron" and able to impact with superhuman force.

In December 2007, Park was confirmed for the role of Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, involving a variation of the international G.I. Joe force who fought the minions of Cobra in the comics.

He worked with comic book creator-turned-filmmaker Kevin VanHook in the film Slayer, starring in the dual roles of acrobatic twin vampires. This film also saw him appearing again with Sleepy Hollow co-star Casper Van Dien.

ComiCon 2007 saw the premiere of the teaser trailer for Descendants, another comic book adaptation based on an independent comic by writer Joey Andrade.^[7]

Park also appeared as Edgar in the fourth season of the television series Heroes.

Park was also included in the motion capture team of the 2008 James Bond video game adaptation of Quantum of Solace.

In the comic-book-styled film Hellbinders, he plays a soulless mercenary who, along with an elite assassin (Johnny Yong Bosch) and the last remaining member of the long dead Knights Templar, Esteban Cueto, must overcome their innate mistrust of each other and join forces to defeat Legion before it opens the gates of hell itself and overruns the entire world. Park narrated on 26 February 2010 the introduction of The FireBreather, a car from Classic Design Concepts in Detroit Autorama 2010,^[8] the vehicle is part of the Supernatural thriller Jinn.^[9]

Personal life[link]

Park now resides in Los Angeles.^[10]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ray Park

• Official website
• Ray Park at the Internet Movie Database
• Ray Park at AllRovi