Prior to the release of the the Phantom Menace in 1999, the Star Wars franchise went through something of a dark period. There was very little released in the way of content. Fans really only had the home videos available, which many watched repeatedly. Fans were desperate for more “Star Wars” content, and the anticipation leading up to the release of “The Phantom Menace” was at a fever pitch. Indeed, the Phantom Menace become one of the largest blockbuster events in history.
Casting Anakin
Let’s travel back a few years. In 1993 George Lucas, the creative mastermind behind the epic Star Wars franchise, embarked on a worldwide quest to find the perfect actor to play the pivotal role of the young Anakin Skywalker. Lucas had big plans for his upcoming sequel trilogy and was determined to utilize cutting-edge computer-generated imagery to bring his vision to life. Jake Lloyd, who was just eight years old, played a young Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace.
Beverly Strong, a seasoned Hollywood manager, represented the talented young actor Jake Lloyd. Despite his young age, Jake had already achieved significant success in his role in the hit movie Jingle All the Way.
To ensure that Jake was fully prepared for his audition for the pivotal role of Anakin Skywalker, Beverly enlisted the help of acting coach Dennis LaValle. Dennis trained and coached Jake through the entire process, and many say his audition was flawless. Below are Jake’s agents and coaches. Dennis LaValle is on the far left, Beverly Strong is in the middle with the green shirt.
Over 3,000 actors auditioned for the part, and ultimately, Jake Lloyd was chosen for the role.
Over 3,000 actors auditioned for the part, and ultimately, Jake Lloyd was chosen for the role. George Lucas was impressed by his enthusiasm and energy. Below is Jake signing his contract at age 9.
Dennis LaValle was an integral part of Jake Lloyd’s preparation for his role in The Phantom Menace. So much so that he was supposed to accompany Jake to the shoot and coach him every step of the way. However, to the surprise of many, the producers decided against having LaValle on set.
Jake’s performance during the audition ended up being vastly different than what was ultimately seen in the film. Indeed, Jake’s performance in the Phantom Menace was widely panned. Lloyd was just 10 years old when The Phantom Menace was released in 1999.
Aftermath
While he was nominated for a Young Artist Award, he also received two Razzie nominations for Worst Supporting Actor and Worst Screen Couple with Natalie Portman.
The Phantom Menace was a departure from the traditional Star Wars formula, focusing on political intrigue and trade disputes rather than epic battles between heroes and villains. To make matters worse, the introduction of the CGI character Jar Jar Binks was universally panned. Ahmed Best, who voiced the character, revealed in an interview that he was so affected by the negative feedback that he contemplated suicide.
But perhaps the most reviled aspect of the film was the portrayal of a young Anakin Skywalker, who failed to capture the essence of the iconic villain he would eventually become.
Although Jake attempted to put the movie behind him, he was the object of mockery for years.
Despite being just ten years old at the time, Lloyd received hate mail bullying from fans who were disappointed with the film. With the rise of the internet, the online harassment only made things worse. Fans vented their frustrations about the movie by targeting Jake with crass songs and hurtful comments. No one seemed to come to his defense, and he, a child, was left to deal with the fallout of a film that was widely panned. Although Jake attempted to put the movie behind him, he was the object of mockery for years.
Jake was perfect for the part. He’s enthusiastic, very energetic, and exudes a lot of self-confidence, which is important for the character. And he has a certain charm that really comes across on the screen. He’s a joy to work with and a very talented young actor.
In an interview with the New York Times in 1999, Director George Lucas spoke about Jake Lloyd’s performance in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” saying:
In a 2017 interview with New York Magazine, Mark Hamill expressed his disgust with the way Star Wars fans had treated Lloyd. Hamill defended the young actor, saying that he had simply done what George Lucas had wanted him to do, and that the backlash against him was unjustified. Hamill even went so far as to say that the treatment of Lloyd was one of the reasons why he would never let his own children go into show business, as he believed that it could lead to a lifetime of rejection, ridicule, and unemployment.
He was only 10 years old, that boy, and he did exactly what George wanted him to do. Believe me.
Mark Hamill on Jake Lloyd’s role as Anakin
Jake officially retired from acting at the young age of 12. In interviews, he has revealed that he even burned his Star Wars merchandise and can never watch the movie again because it makes him uncomfortable.
Jake eventually began studying film at Columbia College in Chicago, but only lasted one semester.
What happened to child star Jake Lloyd after Star Wars?
Mental Health and Legal Issues
he Phantom Menace, Lloyd was cast by George Lucas to portray the role of Anakin Skywalker, which, unfortunately, received a lot of criticism. Since the Star Wars actor was so young at the time, this affected his well-being and completely changed his world.
It’s difficult to imagine what it must have been like for Lloyd to go through such a traumatic experience at such a young age. But clearly the vitriol took a toll on Lloyd’s mental health.
It was revealed that Jake had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
In 2015, Jake Lloyd is known for his role as the young version of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise. He was arrested in his hometown after an altercation with his mother. She claimed that he had verbally and physically assaulted her, but did not press charges. It was revealed that Jake had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was off his medication at the time.
Later that same year, he found himself in even more trouble when he was arrested in South Carolina for reckless driving, driving without a license, and resisting arrest. He led police on a high-speed car chase in which he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree.
For reasons that remain unclear, he was held in jail for an unreasonably long 10 months before finally being transferred to a psychiatric facility for treatment. It was a difficult time for the troubled former child star, who was struggling to cope with his illness.
In 2018, Jake’s younger sister Madison passed away in her sleep at the age of 26. The news was devastating for the family. Jake’s mother Lisa said that she and Jake were both ‘shattered’ by the loss of Madison.
Recent Update
In 2020 his family shared an update on his mental health:
We would like to thank everyone for their kind words, their support, and goodwill. Jake has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, but unfortunately, he also has a symptom called anosognosia which causes a lack of insight into his illness. This only adds to the struggle he faces, which has been very difficult after the tragic loss of his younger sister, Madison. He has moved closer to his family and we are all working hard to help him with this. He is still a kind and caring person, and we hope to have him back to his fun and entertaining self as soon as possible. Jake will continue to make progress with the love and support you continue to show.
Lloyd Family
After years of struggles and setbacks, Jake Lloyd has finally found some peace. He is still a kind and caring person and we hope to have him back to his fun and entertaining self as soon as possible. He has been living a quiet life and focusing on himself, which is exactly what he needs to do. It’s clear that Jake is in a much better place now, and we can only hope that he continues to find happiness and success in the future.
