Lucasfilm is only a few months away from its return to live-action storytelling after finishing the seventh episode of The Book of Boba Fett. This will come on May 25 with Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi, a limited series set between the Star Wars prequels and the original trilogy from the Skywalker Saga. Even with not much of a promotional tour thus far, Obi-Wan is building up plenty of hype for its debut.
Fans recently got the first image from the Disney+ series in the form of its first official poster, which highlighted a battle-weary Jedi Master in the sands of Tatooine. No footage from the show has been released to the public yet, fans are looking forward to seeing an extension of the prequels, especially with the upcoming rematch of the century between Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker.
Outside of Hayden Christensen as Anakin/Darth Vader, the show boasts an impressive cast of newcomers, although there are no signs pointing to any other prequel characters coming into play. That all changes with a new report that spoils a comeback for one of the Prequel Trilogy's key supporting characters.
Jimmy Smits Returns In Obi-Wan Kenobi
Making Star Wars revealed that Jimmy Smits will be reprising his role as Senator Bail Organa in the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series coming to Disney+ in May 2022. Smits was reportedly seen filming material with star Ewan McGregor on-set, although the extent of his role is still unclear.
This will be Smits' fourth appearance for Lucasfilm after playing Senator Organa in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and Rogue One.
Obi-Wan Reunites with Leia's Adopted Father
If there are any important Prequel Trilogy characters that make sense to bring into Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jimmy Smits' Bail Organa is near the top of that list.
Organa played a key role in Episode II and Episode III, which ended with him taking custody of Leia Skywalker as a baby and raising her as his own daughter on Alderaan. Also playing a role in Rogue One, a film that connected the prequels with the original trilogy, his character became an important part of the Skywalker family's legacy in the Skywalker Saga.
The big thing to keep in mind with Senator Organa is that he's one of the few people who know the truth about Leia and Luke Skywalker's whereabouts after Episode III. He also knows that Master Yoda is taking his self-imposed exile in the Dagobah system, which makes him quite a valuable asset to any evil forces working for the Empire.
While it's unknown how big his role in Obi-Wan will be, he will certainly be looking out for the infants that he helped to protect in the aftermath of the First Galactic Empire's formation.
Obi-Wan's ties with the Skywalker family will be a major overarching theme in his solo series, as he looks after Luke and Leia while also coming face-to-face with their father once again. Organa's ties to that family are as deep as anyone's, meaning that he could be either a key player in multiple episodes, or he could be one of this series' major cameos to help push the plot forward.
Regardless of how big Smits' role is, the prequels will continue making their presence felt in Star Wars' latest live-action saga.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is set to premiere on Disney+ on May 25, 2022.
