In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ewan McGregor opens up about reprising his role as Obi Wan-Kenobi, teasing that the Jedi Master we’ll reunite with at the beginning of the series is “broken and faithless — beaten, somewhat given up.”
McGregor also discusses what it’s like to not only take up the mantle once more but how it felt to have Hayden Christensen return as Anakin Skywalker as well. Kenobi, the Disney Plus series that’s set to debut on May 25th will follow the events of Revenge of the Sith, changing the course of the series and one line in particular, according to the interview.
Star Wars is a complex world full of years and years of development. For many of us, it’s our first introduction to the world of science fiction, and it’s always been the best kind of escape. Despite the reputation of the prequels (and the overall consistent arguments that arise within the fandom), perhaps one of the most comforting things is seeing Ewan McGregor revisit the role with such heart and compassion, showcasing with all that he has just how much he cares about Obi-Wan Kenobi as a character and those around him.
It’s refreshing, more than anything, to know that an actor isn’t ashamed of the role millions associate him with, but instead, it’s something Ewan McGregor is clearly proud of. For as much as we adore Obi-Wan, he undoubtedly loves and cares for him just as much. And there’s much to be said about what this represents for those who’ve grown up with the prequels, whether you like them or not, or what the critical reception means. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that when our favored Jedi returns, he’ll be brought to life by an actor with incredible adoration for the character.
McGregor’s compassion then takes us back to the notion of Obi-Wan now being broken, understandably blaming himself for failing Anakin and for everything that transpires, leading to the rise of the Empire that we know of. These stories — the moments in between that we have very little knowledge of outside of books will be so fascinating to explore because these quiet corners of dealing with the aftermath of catastrophic, life-changing events are the kind of character journeys I’ve always wanted to see most of. And thus, to have the opportunity to see it with a character who’s so profoundly beloved still feels surreal.
How Kenobi will handle the brokenness and how the series will deal with the aftermath, only time will tell, but before that happens, I’ll be here, crying about it while we countdown. The limited series has such astounding potential and with everything we’ve seen so far with teasers and interviews, it’s hard not to hope.