If Ewan McGregor returns as Obi-Wan, it would make Star Wars‘ biggest problem even worse.
McGregor has been vocal about wanting to return to the Star Wars universe as Obi-Wan Kenobi. During a recent discussion with Variety at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, McGregor shared what he pitched to Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni.
“It was very casual, but I said there’s got to be something,” McGregor said. “Because Yoda’s somewhere else. After the end of Episode III, when we all go to the four or five corners of the galaxy—or however many corners it’s got—I won’t have been in touch with him. But he’s out there. So I think there could be a story there where I’m trying to reach out to him.”
McGregor also mentioned that he pondered Star Wars ideas involving his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays Hera in Ahsoka.
“I got very excited when Mary started working on Ahsoka,” McGregor said. “I thought, maybe this is the big love story—Obi-Wan and Hera.” McGregor recognized that these two characters “were in different time frames.”
Regardless of these ideas, Filoni and Lucasfilm brass need to thank McGregor for his ideas before respectfully declining. It’s time to move on from Obi-Wan.
Star Wars should move on from Obi-Wan
If McGregor only played Obi-Wan in the prequel trilogy up to this point, then I could see a world where Lucasfilm brought him back. But McGregor has reprised his Star Wars role for the 2022 Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had the chance to play this iconic character again for six episodes, giving the series a definitive ending.
Technically, could Lucasfilm create another way to bring McGregor’s Obi-Wan back in a movie or TV show? Sure. Should they do it? Absolutely not.
Star Wars’ refusal to move on from the Skywalker Saga timeline is becoming one of Lucasfilm’s biggest problems. Next year will mark 50 years since A New Hope, and Lucasfilm is still telling stories connected to the Skywalkers. It’s time to move on.
Think about how many kids and teenagers fell in love with Star Wars when any of the three trilogies came out. They got to grow with these characters and develop relationships. Do kids these days care about McGregor’s Obi-Wan? Maybe diehards do, but I’d bet most don’t have a connection to him. They’re not supposed to, anyway. Star Wars must create a new set of characters for young people to connect to and grow with as they get older.
It’s why I have high hopes for Star Wars: Starfighter. It’s an original story with fresh characters. Even if it’s not well received, at least Lucasfilm is finally taking a risk and trying something different. Star Wars needs more of that ingenuity, considering The Mandalorian and Grogu underperformed.
McGregor deserves his flowers for playing Obi-Wan, but it’s time to move on.
