Obi-Wan Kenobi is set to take center stage in the first live-action Star Wars series on Disney+ in 2022. The upcoming project will bring back Ewan McGregor as the titular Jedi Master, and it will be set a decade after the tragic events of Revenge of the Sith. McGregor will have a stellar cast surrounding him, which includes Kumail Nanjiani, Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, and Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader in his highly-anticipated comeback.
Obi-Wan Kenobi has experienced its own fair share of ups and downs throughout its development. Initially, the project was supposed to be a film, but it transitioned to become a six-episode Disney+ series instead.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy previously opened up about the project's script problems, admitting that the studio wanted to create a "hopeful, uplifting story;" but it was tricky due to the period of time when Obi-Wan Kenobi is set. This development led Lucasfilm to hire Joby Harold as its new writer, taking over from Hossein Amini, who was the original scribe.
Now, as the show's premiere inches closer, more of Obi-Wan Kenobi's writing team is slowly being unveiled.
Pixar Team Working on Star Wars
An official listing from the Writer's Guild of America West, via Reddit, revealed that Andrew Stanton and Hannah Friedman are credited for writing several episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Stanton wrote Episode 5, while Friedman wrote Episodes 3 and 4.
Stanton famously directed several Pixar films such as Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Finding Dory. In addition, Stanton also served as a writer on all four Toy Story films and Monsters, Inc.
Meanwhile, Friedman worked as a feature writer for the Pixar Braintrust and at Disney Feature Animation. Friedman is also an executive producer on Lucasfilm's upcoming Willow series for Disney+.
Obi-Wan Kenobi's Stellar Writing Team
Andrew Stanton and Hannah Friedman's inclusion in Obi-Wan Kenobi's writing team provides an added boost to the series, especially considering the pair's impressive resume.
The exact plot details for Obi-Wan Kenobi are still being kept under wraps, but it is widely expected to focus on loss and bringing back a sense of hope for the galaxy after the Empire's takeover. Given that Stanton worked on Pixar films that explore the concept of hope and not giving up, the writer's experience fits Lucasfilm's goal of crafting an uplifting story.
Friedman's experience with the Pixar Braintrust, a group that oversees the development of all Pixar movies, is a valuable asset for Obi-Wan Kenobi since it provides an opportunity for a seamless narrative while still keeping its core theme throughout its six-episode run. On top of that, there is already familiarity between Friedman and Lucasfilm due to the former's extensive work in developing Willow.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will have a two-episode premiere on Disney+ on May 27.
