With his Obi-Wan Kenobi series imminent, Ewan McGregor speaks about his memorable Star Wars firsts.
Obi-Wan Kenobi lands in just a week’s time, on Friday the 27th of May. While trailers have been abroad for a while, as well as plenty of press coverage, Disney+ have now dropped a short featurette to help build the anticipation.
With Ewan McGregor front and centre, it’s a quick trip down memory lane – first to 1977, then to the late-90s…
“The first time I got to watch Star Wars, I was pretty blown away…”
In the brief featurette, McGregor reflects on the performance of Sir Alec Guinness in the first Star Wars movie and his excitement at playing that same character as a younger man.
He then moves to a couple of memories from The Phantom Menace; choosing his lightsaber and filming the intricate fight sequence with Darth Maul.
Finally, we see a few teasing shots from Obi-Wan Kenobi as he talks about the wonder and excitement of returning to the role. Directed by Deborah Chow, the show is a six-part “limited series” – although McGregor has indicated he’d be up for more.
Here’s the show’s synopsis:
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” where Obi-Wan Kenobi faced his greatest defeat—the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.
From what we’ve seen, the show will fill us in on Obi-Wan’s wilderness years, hiding out in the Tatooine desert and keeping a watchful eye on the young Luke Skywalker.
However, he also has to contend with the threat of the Inquisitors, hunters on a mission to eradicate the remaining Jedi who survived the Order 66 purge.
Joining Ewan McGregor, Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse reprise their roles as Owen and Beru Lars. Plus, of course, Hayden Christensen returns to the role of Darth Vader.
The cast also includes Kumail Nanjiani, Moses Ingram, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie.
The Grand Inquisitor
Ewan McGregor is not the only star out on the promo trail either. Rupert Friend, who plays the Grand Inquisitor has given an enthusiastic interview to Entertainment Weekly.
In it, he talks about his involvement as fulfilling a boyhood dream, lightsaber training and the character’s arduous makeup requirement. Friend also considers the potential for his character to reappear elsewhere in the Star Wars universe.
Steaming on Disney+, Obi-Wan Kenobi drops two episodes on Friday, May the 27th. The remaining four episodes will follow on Wednesdays thereafter.