If Disney/Lucasfilm make an Obi-Wan Star Wars film, here are some flashbacks we’d like to see…
On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter reported that an Obi-Wan Kenobi Star Wars standalone film is in the works, with talented director Stephen Daldry directing the project. It is unknown at this time if Ewan McGregor will reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in this particular film, but chances are high with McGregor’s current connection with Disney films — Beauty & The Beast and the upcoming Christopher Robin —plus earlier statements that he would reprise the role if asked, that he will. Don’t forget McGregor also recorded a line, “these are your first steps” in Rey’s Force-back in The Force Awakens.
Assuming McGregor reprises the role as the wise Jedi Master, and with the plot most likely having him reside on Tatooine in exile, here are five potential flashback scenes that would highly enhance the film in that setting.
1. The duel on Mustafar
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Having Obi-Wan reeling and regretting his duel with his former student Anakin Skywalker, now the transformed Sith Lord Darth Vader is a must-have in my opinion. After maiming his best friend in battle, watching him burn alive, then leaving him for dead, Obi Wan must think that Anakin is long gone.
In the Ahoska novel, by E. K. Johnston, there is an interlude in the book when Obi Wan visits Anakin’s mother’s gravesite, feeling deep remorse and blame for not succeeding in watching over her son. So that sense of pain and regret is definitely in the mind of Obi-Wan.
A great moment to see on screen would be Obi-Wan learning of Anakin’s survival, then flashing back to their last encounter on the fiery Mustafar. In the Legends novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, he learns that Darth Vader is, in fact, alive, spreading terror throughout the galaxy. Kenobi then falls over in shock and disbelief, and stumbles out of the bar in agony. Imagine a flashback to go with that powerful moment of Darth Vader’s reveal on the big screen?
2. Obi-Wan’s training with Qui Gon Jinn
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
In The Phantom Menace, we do not get any of Obi-Wan’s initial Jedi training, which I thought was a huge missed opportunity.
Similar to the style of the film Batman Begins, where Liam Neeson’s character trains Bruce Wayne, we could see a training session, where we flashback to Qui Gon Jinn training a young Obi-Wan.
Both actors, McGregor and Neeson have definitely aged since then, but maybe with a little CGI and/or good casting, we could get some amazing Force training within the walls of the Jedi Temple.
3. Duchess Satine
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
In one of the saddest moments in Obi-Wan’s story arc, his former love, Duchess Satine dies at the hands of his greatest adversary, Darth Maul. Having Obi-Wan flashback to both his time with her as a young man, as well as portraying a live action modified version of The Clone Wars death scene, would make for a deep, emotional moment, plus connect separate forms of canon to one another.
4. Obi-Wan’s quest to Illum
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
In The Clone Wars animated series, we are treated with a journey to the ice planet of Illum, one of the locations where Jedi younglings travel in order to find a kyber crystal for their very first lightsaber.
Seeing Obi-Wan and Qui Gon travel there together and face the many trials the Force presents to Jedi hopefuls and their Masters within the interior caves of the treacherous world would be an epic moment to see on screen. Plus they could add some Easter Eggs from the now Legends novel Jedi Quest, where Anakin travels to Illum with Obi-Wan in search of his very first kyber crystal.
5. Order 66
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
After defeating the Jedi-hunting cyborg General Grievous on the world of Utapau in Revenge of the Sith, Kenobi’s most trusted clone and friend Commander Cody receives an order from the newly minted Emperor to kill Kenobi and all the Jedi traitors.
Maybe in a dream sequence similar to that of Anakin Skywalker which we see several times throughout the prequels, it would be awesome to see Kenobi having nightmares of terror and waking up in a cold-sweat after reliving the awful events of his escape and betrayal at the hands of Cody.
Next: 50 Most Memorable Moments from Star Wars Rebels
Stay tuned to Dork Side of the Force as more on the Obi-Wan standalone Star Wars films develops and share your thoughts in the comment section below and also on social media on what you would like to see in the upcoming Obi-Wan film.