Obi-Wan Kenobi is easily the most anticipated Star Wars project for many fans of the franchise in quite some time—maybe since the first season of The Mandalorian. There has been a strong desire amongst audiences to see Ewan McGregor return under the Jedi robes for over a decade now. Well, the moment is finally almost here, and it doesn’t look like it will disappoint.
Based on the trailer, the former Jedi Master will have a lot to contend with. On top of his inevitable showdown with Darth Vader, he’ll have to keep an eye on Luke Skywalker as dark forces start to close in on him.
One of those threats is the Inquisitors, a group of former Jedi who now serves Vader as his bounty hunters, helping to wipe out the last of the Order from the galaxy. The souped-up goons made their original appearance in Star Wars: Rebels, with Kenobi being their first time in a live-action project.
The group's leader (outside of Vader himself), the Grand Inquisitor, was seen in the first trailer alongside a few other Brothers and Sisters. Now, the actor behind the threatening foe has finally broken his silence about bringing the dastardly character to life.
Grand Inquisitor Star Opens Up About Kenobi
During an interview with Digital Spy, Rupert Friend broke his silence on his big role as the Grand Inquisitor in the upcoming Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The actor revealed how he “did sweat buckets inside the prosthetics” but that it was all “so worth it:”
“It was a sweaty, sweaty suit, and I did sweat buckets inside the prosthetics, which would pour across my face at the end of a day and make me look like a very, very miserable clown…but so worth it!”
He continued on to exclaim that he loves how “the relationship between the stories and the fans is completely interlaced:”
“It’s amazing. They have literally built a universe over the years, and the incredible thing about is the relationship between the stories and the fans is completely interlaced – they are as connected with those stories as those of us who make it, and you really feel like you’re in dialogue as you do it... It’s an amazing thing to be a part of.”
Get Ready for the Grand Inquisitor
The Inquisitors are a concept that many fans thought they’d likely never see in live-action when they were first introduced. However, the idea of the Jedi-hunting group has been in the spotlight more and more as of late.
Most recently, the group had a major role to play in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as the game's main antagonists.
Many might not have expected ever to see the Grand Inquisitor again, seeing as he was dispatched by the end of Rebels’ first season. In his time within the series, however, he certainly had a menacing presence—it was a shame to see him gone so soon.
Thanks to the magic of retroactive continuity, Lucasfilm is giving everyone another chance to experience his character. But can Rupert Friend’s performance match that of Jason Isaacs?
Seeing the character outside of animation is its own experience as well. The prosthetics make for an entirely different look, one that some fans are thrown off by, while others are loving it.
Audiences will be able to see how it all turned out when Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on May 27, exclusively on Disney+.
