The release of Lucasfilm's next live-action Star Wars series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is arriving faster than a fathier, dropping its first episode on Disney+ on May 27. The streaming show will, of course, bring perennial fan-favorite Ewan McGregor back to his most famous role as the titular Jedi-Master-in-exile. Not only that, but Hayden Christensen, who starred opposite McGregor for two films as his padawan-turned-enemy Anakin Skywalker, has joined the series and is suiting up as Darth Vader.
Only a few months after Obi-Wan Kenobi airs, The Emmys, television's most prestigious awards show, will make its way to the public.
A show always has a certain pedigree attached to it if it includes an actor or a writer who has taken home one or more of the coveted golden statues. As such, the Television Academy has rather stringent rules on eligibility. Some series may not be submitted for Emmy consideration based on the nature of their release dates.
With that in mind, it seems Obi-Wan Kenobi has run into a hangup with regards to its eventual ability to take home any Emmys, according to a new report.
May the Force (But Not The Emmys) Be With Kenobi
In a piece from Variety, the outlet details the circumstances in which the Obi-Wan Kenobi series will reportedly not be eligible for submission to the Television Academy for the purposes of Emmy nomination. Because the show is being released outside of the award show's designated window of eligibility,(from June 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022), the Academy will not accept it as a contender to win any and all 2022 Emmy Awards.
This Time, Obi-Wan Doesn't Have the High Ground
The report from Variety goes on to say that Disney and Lucasfilm can possibly circumvent these requirements if they release all six episodes of Kenobi to the Television Academy for review. This is, however, something that the studio is very likely unwilling to do. Lucasfilm has traditionally kept their cards extremely close to the vest when it comes to their live-action Star Wars offerings, especially when they're premiering on Disney+. They went to great lengths to preserve the surprise addition of Luke Skywalker in both The Mandalorian Season 2 and The Book of Boba Fett.
As it stands now, the finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi will drop on June 22, which is after the start of the period where the Academy votes on its nominations for the Emmys. Now, Disney could choose to put out two episodes on July 15, thus enabling the show to get into consideration under the wire, but time will tell whether or not they elect to pursue this strategy.
In any case, it would be a shame if such an anticipated series with a collection of top-caliber actors, writers, directors, and crew members were to be left out in the cold, unable to receive such recognition for all their hard work. But maybe Disney and Lucasfilm have a trick up their sleeve.
Lucasfilm's Obi-Wan Kenobi will hit Disney+ with its first two episodes debuting on Friday, May 27, only on Disney+.
