Star Wars: Why Ewan McGregor Said About the Role of Obi-Wan

Ewan McGregor knew it right away: playing Obi-Wan Kenobi, the iconic Jedi previously played by Alec Guinness, was going to give his career a new direction, one he wasn’t sure he wanted to take. Joining the world of Star Saga meant that he would no longer be a promising independent film actor, but a successful star. So he almost gave up.

After starring in Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, the young actor wanted to keep his “urban grunge” side that suited him so well and instead wanted to star in more edgy and independent films. Then came Star Wars.

As reported by CinemaBlend, the SmartLess podcast guest actor confided his judgment and experience in Obi-Wan’s skin.

I really had to think about it. Because it was shortly after the Trainspotting period and I was so full of myself at the time. I said, I’m Danny Boyle’s actor. Urban grunge. I am the oasis of the British film industry.’ And then when Star Wars came along, I thought, “I don’t know if I want to do this. this is not me. I think I was worried about “gender casting” or something. It will be too big, I thought. I was very comfortable being that anti-hero. An independent British actor, that’s how I felt. I felt it defined me.

It’s not an easy decision, as the mere fact of joining the Star Wars franchise will make your name. Plus, when you’re fighting a younger version of an already iconic character, the anticipation and focus is even higher.

Although the first prequel came out in 1999 and he really became a household name, Ewan McGregor has always found a happy medium and has been involved in independent and unique projects as a result.

of two A phantom threat And Attack of the Clones, one of his best movies, Moulin Rouge! By Baz Luhrmann, with Nicole Kidman, it really saw the light of day. Then, between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, he continued to say yes to performances in different genres, such as the romantic comedy Bye Bye Love, Tim Burton’s musical Big Fish or the Robot animated film.

Since the release of the Star Wars prequels, the reception to the films has always been mixed: some love it, some hate it. Ewan McGregor thinks it’s because critics were just disappointed that it wasn’t exactly like the Star Wars and Saga they grew up with.

Despite this, the prequel still has its dedicated fan base and the actor continues to support the films. So when we started asking him if he would ever return as a Jedi, his answer was always yes.

Now that Yes has become an Obi-Wan Kenobi show on Disney+, a project that has been in the works for several years. What changed everything? McGregor said of Disney’s decision. After a successful first season, he says he’s ready to return if the opportunity arises.

Whether you’re a fan of the prequels or not, there’s no denying that it would be a shame to pass up the actor’s role as one of the franchise’s most iconic Jedi. Looks like Ewan McGregor made the right decision…

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series, the trailer for which can be seen below, is available to stream on Disney+.