Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi has been in various iterations of planning for the better part of a decade. At long last, the series nears its arrival.
A project featuring Ewan McGregor as the beloved Jedi Master has been at the top of every Star Wars fan's wishlist since Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012. For years, the actor was asked about potentially returning to the role, to which he would express his desire to do so but maintain that no such discussions had transpired.
Those were all fibs.
During the 2019 D-23 Convention, Kathleen Kennedy announced to an elated crowd that McGregor would indeed don his Jedi robes once more. Deborah Chow, who rose to prominence for her work on The Mandalorian's first season, was later confirmed to direct the series, and Joby Harold eventually assumed writing duties after previous ideas fell through.
Things were stalled by the outbreak of Covid-19, but Obi-Wan Kenobi finally commenced filming this spring. The project has been in development since the early days of The Force Awakens, but it can now be comfortably said that the series is in the finishing stages of work.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Has Completed Production
In an interview with Variety, actor Ewan McGregor confirmed that Obi-Wan Kenobi has finished filming:
"We finished shooting our series. It was really, really good fun. I really enjoyed working with Deborah Chow."
The actor was confident that Star Wars fans will be pleased:
"I think it will not disappoint. I think it's gonna be good."
McGregor had nothing but good things to say about his cast mates:
"I had a really good time making it and worked with some really wonderful, lovely people."
Also noted was the use of The Volume technology, and how different the filming process was between Kenobi and the prequel trilogy:
"The new technology we employed was cool. It was a different experience than making the original three films that I did, and I really, really liked it."
The Home Stretch
Star Wars fans have been so patient, and very soon that will be pay off in spades.
Originally conceived as a film, Obi-Wan Kenobi will finally bring to life more of what the crazy old wizard endured in his time of exile. Ewan McGregor, widely considered to be the best actor in the prequel trilogy, has the opportunity to really show off his acting chops in a story that will undoubtedly get into Obi-Wan's head.
The performer made reference to the great people he got to work with, and Hayden Christensen was certainly one of those he had in mind. Returning to play Darth Vader for what Kathleen Kennedy has described as "the rematch of the century" between him and Kenobi, Christensen has been embraced by the Star Wars community since the days when his work as Anakin Skywalker was panned during the release of the prequels.
Anakin was like a brother,as Obi-Wan says, and the burden of losing someone so close to him to the dark side will weigh heavily on the Jedi Master as he undertakes this new journey. While he can't save his fallen student, he can protect his offspring - something Obi-Wan will reportedly be doing in the series. Contrary to common assumption, Kenobi's adventure will be kick-started by a threat to Leia, not Luke.
How exactly Vader, and any other familiar characters, will be incorporated into the plot remains to be seen, but McGregor's enthusiasm for the project is palpable. While Lucasfilm in general likes to keep things quiet, this is the second big name to hype a forthcoming Star Wars project, the first being the highly confident Robert Rodriguez for The Book of Boba Fett.
Fans can certainly expect exceptional performances and direction, and hopefully a thrilling story as well. For many, the release of Obi-Wan Kenobi will be a dream fulfilled.
It will be a day long remembered.
Obi-Wan Kenobi debuts on Disney+ in 2022.
