The long-awaited Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series will reportedly debut in May, and plot details remain sparse. After 17 years, Ewan McGregor will suit up as the titular Jedi Master once more, undertaking a journey that will pull him off the sands of Tatooine amidst his exile. During his escapades, Obi-Wan will come face-to-face with his former student, Darth Vader, played again by Hayden Christensen for an epic rematch.
When word spread that Vader would be fighting Kenobi, the news was met with thunderous applause. But the Dark Lord of the Sith will likely be more of a final battle scenario, with the duel coming in the last episode of the series. To build up to the monumental confrontation, there will need to be other forces that take on the Jedi Master - which is where the Inquisitors come into play.
Vader's group of dark side Jedi Hunters have long been rumored to appear in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and in greater numbers at that. Initially entering the canon in Star Wars: Rebels, the Inquisitors have slowly been given more background and characterization in recent years. With the group now set to join the live-action fray, there's been speculation regarding which members of the announced cast will be playing the Imperial enforcers.
As it turns out, one man will be portraying the Inquisitor who started it all.
Grand Inquisitor Making Live-Action Debut
Bespin Bulletin reported that Rupert Friend will be playing the Grand Inquisitor in the forthcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series. The Grand Inquisitor, previously voiced by Jason Isaacs for Star Wars Rebels, will be making his live-action debut in the 2022 Disney+ limited series.
Friendly Neighborhood Inquisitor?
The Grand Inquisitor is a big character to bring into Obi-Wan Kenobi, though there's only so much that can be done with him. Given that his defeat at the hands of Kanan Jarrus comes four years following the shows events in Rebels, it's guaranteed that the leader of the Inquisitorious won't be getting killed off as other new introductions to the group may. That being said, he can still have a substantial role in the series.
To grab Vader's attention, it will take a series of defeats at the hands of Obi-Wan to climb the ladder. Things could start small, perhaps with the Jedi Master besting squads of stormtroopers, or even his old second-in-command, Clone Commander Cody. From there, Inquisitors will be dispatched to investigate, and if the lowly Jedi Hunters are beaten, then the Grand Inquisitor himself will enter to ensure the safety of the galaxy.
It's expected that the Grand Inquisitor is going to lose that battle. At that point, Darth Vader will hop in his TIE Advanced to complete the work that his incompetent underlings could not. The Grand Inquisitor will live to fight another day, but he'll be on thin ice with this master - so much so that he'd prefer death to facing Vader's wrath after losing a Star Destroyer over Mustafar. For the time being, he may just be relegated to dispatch duties at Fortress Inquisitorious.
Rupert Friend's casting comes as a bit of a surprise. Many assumed the actor would be portraying Agent Kallus, another (former) villain from Rebels, and that Jason Isaacs would get the nod for the Grand Inquisitor. Isaacs has expressed interest in playing the role in live-action multiple times, he has the voice down, and he even claims to be under an NDA regarding any discussion over the subject, adding another layer of mystery to the situation.
The Grand Inquisitor will appear in Obi-Wan Kenobi in May on Disney+.
