Obi-Wan Hints At Repeating The Best Part Of His Star Wars Prequels Story
The first photos and teaser trailer released for Obi-Wan Kenobi suggest that the Disney+ show may include one of the best aspects of the Jedi Master's story from the Star Wars prequels. Ewan McGregor is reprising his role as Obi-Wan after fans last saw him handing over baby Luke Skywalker to his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru on Tatooine at the end of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. His Disney+ Star Wars show though will have him leave Tatooine, which hints at a return to Obi-Wan using more than his skills with the force to complete his mission.
The Obi-Wan Kenobi show started life as a potential Star Wars movie, before being re-worked into a limited series on Disney’s streaming service. The format has proved to be a good home for Star Wars stories, with The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett both finding success there. Obi-Wan Kenobi will be set 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, with Obi-Wan still in hiding, while being hunted by Inquisitors, and Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) himself.
Most new Star Wars stories introduce new planets to audiences, and Obi-Wan Kenobi will be no different. The first-look images and trailer for Obi-Wan Kenobi include a glimpse at the new planet of Daiyu. Joby Harold, the showrunner for Obi-Wan Kenobi has said (via Entertainment Weekly) that "sort of has a Hong Kong feel to it. It's got a graffiti-ridden nightlife, and is kind of edgy.” That description can also be applied to The Outlander Club seen in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. There Obi-Wan first showcased his detective skills in pursuing the bounty hunters that were targeting Padmé. His investigation story was a highlight of the Star Wars prequels, with the Jedi relying more on his wits than the force. With Inquisitors hunting Jedi relentlessly, his detective skills will likely be needed once again in order to stay one step ahead of his pursuers.
The idea of Obi-Wan on a mission on another planet and playing detective is an exciting prospect. The visual palette of Daiju, with its neon-drenched cityscape and bustling nightlife, evokes the seedy underbelly of Coruscant in the Star Wars prequels back when Obi-Wan was in his prime. It also expels the fears some fans had that Obi-Wan Kenobi would be stuck on Tatooine for the majority of its runtime, as The Book of Boba Fett certainly suffered in this regard. What he's looking for is unknown at this point, with Lucasfilm keeping story details under wraps. However, as the marketing for Obi-Wan Kenobi continues to build, more clues as to why he goes to Daiyu may be revealed.
With Obi-Wan hiding from the Empire, he’s not going to be eager to reveal himself in Obi-Wan Kenobi by igniting his lightsaber to solve every problem - at least not until his rematch with Vader. Therefore, keeping a low profile and using his powers of deduction (and perhaps the odd Jedi mind trick) will be his best weapons against the dark side. They served him well in the Star Wars prequels, even if he ended up on the losing side.
Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres Wednesday, May 25 on Disney+.