The man who played young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Ewan McGregor, is getting rather tired of being the standard bearer for an Obi-Wan Star Wars film…
Speaking with Parade Magazine, the actor, who as you know, has portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in not only the Star Wars prequels — but also helped to bring Obi-Wan’s voice back to the big-screen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in Rey’s Force dream — talked about the stress of constantly being pushed into the role of fans wanting him to champion the cause of his own Star Wars film, with Disney/Lucasfilm.
"“I like the films that I made with George Lucas and I’m happy to be part of the legend of it all, but that’s it with me. I don’t really understand the fanaticism about it.”"
Parade made sure to point out that McGregor said he enjoyed the films he made with George Lucas. In fact, Parade bolded Lucas’ name, but I wouldn’t read anything into that, as McGregor and J.J. Abrams have a great relationship, and the actor loved the film.
"“I’m asked by everybody all the time, “Would you do another one?” and I’ve said, “Yeah, I’d be happy to,” because I think there’s a film between Episode 3 and Episode 4, which is when Alec Guinness is in the desert.”"
This is the film that Star Wars fans want, and I am surprised that Kathleen Kennedy hasn’t already begun pre-production on this film already. I wonder if a test audience was polled about a young Han Solo film against anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m as excited as anyone else to see the origins of the smuggler with a heart of gold, but wouldn’t seeing the life of Obi-Wan Kenboi, as he lives on the harsh desert of Tatooine, watching over the baby of his former best friend and brother Anakin Skywalker, be better? I could even see an Obi-Wan film have flashbacks to him as a youngling, being recruited into the Jedi Order, taken as a Padawan by Master Qui-Gon Jinn.
McGregor continued:
"“But I’ve been asked about it so much now that I’m being criticized for trying to persuade Disney to make this movie. I only responded to people asking me about it, and now it looks like I’m sort of looking for work, which is humiliating. I couldn’t care less if it happens, but when Star Wars people ask me if I would do it, the answer is yes, so that’s how I feel about it.”"
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This I understand. Ewan McGregor doesn’t need the work, and he’s never started any sort of campaign on social media for Disney or Lucasfilm to give him his own Star Wars film, but if he’s getting criticism from industry insiders, and if that’s hurting his reputation, then it needs to stop.
Although, this could all be over if Disney and Lucasfilm would just pull their collective heads out of their butts and realize that the majority of the Star Wars fan base would kill to see an Obi-Wan standalone film with Ewan McGregor as the lead. The ball, as they say, is in your court, Disney.