By Reinier Macatangay
Prequel bashing for Star Wars has been relentless over the years. One aspect of the three films remains a positive memory though, even for critics – Ewan McGregor’s performance as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Years passed since then, and most people would forgive McGregor for quietly moving on and forgetting about the Star Wars franchise. Yet, he repeatedly expresses interest in reprising his role as a middle-aged Obi-Wan.
“It would be fun to film that story now [that] I’m older,” he told the French publication Premiere. “I’d be the right age. I’m 45, Alec Guinness was what, 60? I could do two of them!”
The stars are aligned for new Obi-Wan films. Fans are open to this idea, and McGregor wants to do them.
Unfortunately, there is speculation that any standalone movie cannot happen until the current trilogy ends, to leave room for any Obi-Wan references. Entertainment Weekly writer Anthony Breznican believes this is the case.
“Um, I have heard rumors that the one reason they haven’t moved sooner on Obi-Wan is that they’re not done with Obi-Wan quite yet,” he explained in a recent interview (transcript found on Star Wars News Net). “ … things that happen in [an Obi-Wan spinoff] can maybe reference The Force Awakens trilogy.”
Breznican goes on to suggest Rey, the main character of The Force Awakens, might be related to Obi-Wan.
“I think that there’ll probably be some reference to Obi-Wan in the Saga films, and his connection to whatever characters he happens to have a connection with. I’ve already written that I think that Rey has some kind of connection to him – family connection.”
“So if that’s the case, maybe we see a part of that play out in the future Obi-Wan movie.”
Nearly everyone believes Rey is Luke Skywalker’s daughter. But, if the producers made Rey related to Obi-Wan instead, it would give an element of surprise that was missing from the slightly predictable The Force Awakens.
McGregor also had a small role in The Force Awakens involving Rey, providing his voice for a key flashback scene after the reluctant hero touches the lightsaber. If nothing else, maybe a “force ghost” Obi-Wan helps Luke train Rey.
Others believe an Obi-Wan cameo does not make sense, given the pending confusion over whether Obi-Wan as a ghost should look like McGregor or Guinness. Yoda, according to online discussion, would be a safer bet.
Regardless, the possibility of Obi-Wan in The Force Awakens trilogy is likely slowing down development on any spinoff, meaning a hypothetical Obi-Wan movie will not come out this decade.
Star Wars Episode VIII will release next December, while Episode IX is slated for 2019.
from Nerd Reactor
0 comments: