Obi-Wan Kenobi is among Lucasfilm's most highly anticipated projects, and word has been light on what fans can expect for next year's show.
During last winter's Disney Investor's Day event, Lucasfilm broke the internet with the reveal that Hayden Christensen would be returning to Star Wars to once again play Darth Vader. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy described the forthcoming encounter between Kenobi and his fallen pupil as "the rematch of the century," and a description of concept art shown to shareholders was later provided with pieces depicting new creatures, Vader on a throne, and the duel itself.
Production on the series should be getting underway this month, and with it, presumably a more steady stream of news. Beyond the two stars of the show, little is known about the rest of the cast, though there have been heavy rumors indicating Temuera Morrison will be returning to play Commander Cody.
At long last, the silence has been broken as one of the trades has picked up on another big name set to join the old hermit's adventure...
OBI-WAN KENOBI SERIES ADDS INDIRA VARMA
Deadline reported that Indira Varma will be joining the cast of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Varma is known for her roles in Game of Thrones and For Life and will be taking on an unspecified role in the Disney+ series.
WHO VARMA MAY BE PLAYING
The obvious question is who the identity of Varma's character will be. Given the nature of Obi-Wan, the actress is likely performing a role in one of two likely scenarios.
If the series spends a good chunk of time on Tatooine, then Varma may just be playing a local who's acquainted with Obi-Wan. This wouldn't be too far off from a role that another character held in Legends novel Kenobi, but with this show being a limited run, there wouldn't be much time to get the audience invested in a moisture farmer. Given the descriptions of the show's concept art, it sounds like Obi-Wan will be leaving the iconic dustball for a brief period, which sets up the more likely possibility for Varma's role.
She could be an Inquisitor. In the described sizzle reel, The Mandalorian director Deborah Chow mentions that it's a very unsafe time to be a Jedi. Obi-Wan is public enemy number one as far as Darth Vader is concerned, and he would undoubtedly dispatch an Inquisitor to track down his old master. If Kenobi is being hunted by the specialty unit of clones led by Cody as rumors have indicated, then an Inquisitor being involved is hardly a stretch.
Perhaps Obi-Wan flees Tatooine to pull his pursuers away from Luke Skywalker, and from there he encounters Varma and his former second in command? These encounters likely wouldn't end well for any of the antagonists, and that's where Vader comes into play and the epic rematch ensues. Where the duel transpires is clearly still a mystery, but Varma's character could have a hand to play in leading Obi-Wan into a trap that brings him face to face with his greatest failure.
There are still so many unknown elements of Obi-Wan Kenobi that it makes it impossible to say who Varma could be playing with any certainty. Other plot details may remain under lock and key that could open the door for other possibilities for the actress, and a Tatooine local or Imperial Inquisitor could be way off the mark.
Regardless, with Varma's acting chops, she'll surely deliver something memorable to the series, and when Obi-Wan finally debuts, it will be a day long remembered.
