With only two days to go until the premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+, fans have conjured up many theories about what they will see in the new series. One thing that is certain, according to star Ewan McGregor, is that his return to the role will see him being more like Alec Guinness than ever before. Of course, Guinness played Kenobi in the original Star Wars, so the new series bridges the gap between the prequel and original trilogies. It is not surprising that McGregor has once again channeled the Thespian actor to bring the Jedi Master to life.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will pick up ten years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, with Kenobi in exile and on the run from Darth Vader’s Inquisitors. While there have been many teases about cameos, plenty of action and that all-important face-off between Kenobi and Vader, there is still very little known about the actual plot of the series, which is obviously just how Disney wants it. When it comes to the portrayal of Kenobi, though, McGregor has made no secret of what is on his mind when he plays the iconic character. He told Star Wars News Net:
"I'm totally affected by him, in everything I do. Since I did the first prequel it's been this case, I always think about him. I always have him in my mind when I play the role. I like to hear his voice when I say the lines – and in this one I'm closer to him in age so I'm maybe even able to borrow a few of the things that he does in A New Hope. You’ll see."
Obi-Wan Kenobi is Inspired by 'Character Driven' Movies
While there will be plenty of action in Obi-Wan Kenobi, director Deborah Chow has explained that the new six-part series takes a lot of its inspiration from movies that focus on a character and concentrate on telling that character’s personal story. She previously told a press conference:
"I think I was most excited about getting the opportunity to do a character-driven story. You know, in a similar way—you know, obviously, it’s a different tone, but something like Joker [and] Logan, where you take one character out of a big franchise, and then you really have the time and you go a lot deeper with the characters. So that to me seemed really exciting to do in Star Wars."
Of course, for many Star Wars fans, there is one thing that they will be waiting to see in Obi-Wan Kenobi; the rematch between Kenobi and Vader has been promised from the moment the series was officially announced. With Hayden Christensen back to reprise his role as Lord Vader, the series is set to be one of the most needed additions to the Star Wars franchise that will both close the book on the prequel movies and provide a doorway into the original 1977 movie as far as its two main characters are concerned.