Will Jar Jar Binks be a character in any of the new Star Wars Films?

Question

Has it been confirmed or (please god) denied that Jar Jar Binks will appear in the new Star Wars films?

Answer 1

I think it’s unlikely he will appear… as a character, that is.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, JJ Abrams mused the possibility of a return for Jar Jar:

But here is something I can disclose, which I suspect fans—a majority of them, anyway—will find most heartening of all: at one point during the effects review, while watching a sequence with spaceships flying low over a desert planet, Abrams asked to pause the scene. With a light pen, he drew a little squiggle on a sand dune.

“I have a thought about putting Jar Jar Binks’s bones in the desert there,” he said.

Everyone laughed.

Abrams laughed, too, but insisted, “I’m serious!” He pointed out that the shot zips by in a second, if that. “Only three people will notice,” he said, “but they’ll love it.”

Given that Abrams clearly understands the general ill-feeling towards Jar Jar, and was willing to suggest this to a journalist, I think he’s unlikely to do an about-face and bring him back as a character in the film.

Of course, that doesn’t preclude him appearing further down the road, after Abrams has left the franchise, but it becomes steadily more unlikely. I don’t think it will happen.

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Update, 8 December 2015: at a Star Wars press event, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that Jar-Jar is not appearing:

Kaling says she knows Kennedy can’t talk about what’s in the movie, so she asks what’s not in the movie. “Jar Jar is not in the movie,” Kennedy says, to hoots from the audience.

Answer 2

Whilst I have not read any article concerning Episode VII featuring any mention of Jar Jar Binks he definitely is alive at the time the Emperor and Darth Vader are killed but well I'm not sure how long Gunguns live he would probably be pretty old if he is still alive though considering the mass hatred the character received I doubt JJ Abrams would consider including him in the film if he did it would be a subtle reference probably background reference but as Jar Jar has no meeting with Luke Skywalker and he is going to be in the film I see no reason for Jar Jar to appear.

His Wookieepedia entry for the Galactic Civil War era simply says,

Galactic Empire After the formation of the New Order, Binks was considered an ally of the new Emperor, and an Imperial HoloVision report shortly after the end of the Clone Wars mentioned that he had personally sent Senator Binks to an undisclosed location. He was succeeded in his post as Representative of Naboo in 6 BBY by Pooja Naberrie, by appointment from Queen Kylantha.

The end of the Civil War Binks was alive and well in 6.5 ABY, and was present on Coruscant during its liberation from the Galactic Empire by troops of the New Republic. While he was never involved in this liberation, he was situated relatively close to some of the action.

The only thing you can do is wait and see if he appears at all in the movie but considering he has nothing to do with the original trilogy whose principle characters are supposed to play a vital role in creating the New Republic Jar Jar a known associate of Palpatine (whether he agreed with him or not) is unlikely to involve himself in anything to do with any new characters linked with the principle characters but we'll see.

Answer 3

Big ol' spoiler below:

Jar Jar Binks is not in The Force Awakens.