In anticipation of Friday's theatrical release of "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" in 3-D, MTV News has been asking folks in the entertainment biz to name their favorite "Star Wars" characters. Many of their choices are quite familiar -- Chewbacca, R2-D2, Han Solo, etc. -- and some ... not so much.

"The Walking Dead" writer Robert Kirkman likes the Rancor monster that lives underneath Jabba the Hutt's throne room; it entertains the sluggish crime lord by violently devouring its unfortunate victims. Kirkman also favors another lesser-known character: "I was always partial to [reptilian bounty hunter] Bossk," he said, "but I think now I'm going pretty deep, so I don't want people to ridicule me too much."

Kirkman isn't alone in his admiration of a bounty hunter; "Young Adult" star Patton Oswalt likes Boba Fett's bandage-headed buddy, Dengar.

Actor/writer/director/"Star Wars" superfan Kevin Smith's preference is slightly less glamorous. "My favorite, hands down, is Power Droid," Smith said. "He was a little square box, very easy to imitate at home with a refrigerator box. So you could literally become that character."

The simple service droid doesn't get much screen time in the series, but Smith has big plans for it nonetheless. "I would like to take that guy and do a whole movie about his adventures," he said. "Wouldn't be very interesting or entertaining, but a lot of people said neither was 'Phantom Menace.' "

Ambivalence regarding "Episode I" notwithstanding, that film does feature a few beloved characters. Keegan Allen from "Pretty Little Liars" is most impressed by Darth Maul, with his double-bladed lightsaber and fierce facial tattoos. "Darth Maul is the sickest 'Star Wars' character, period," Allen said.

And then there's the Jedi master Darth Maul cruelly defeated. "The Grey" director Joe Carnahan's nomination of Liam Neeson's character may have been a polite overture to his star, but Qui-Gon Jinn does deserve a mention when discussing the great players of the franchise. "He trained Obi-Wan [Kenobi], he's got lovely hair, a lovely beard, and he was a good mentor," Neeson said. What more could one want from a "Star Wars" hero?

Check out everything we've got on " Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace."

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