Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen. It’s not often Star Wars fans hear one actor’s name without the other these days, especially when it comes to the Prequel Trilogy. That’s largely because of the relationship between their respective characters, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, who were once brothers in the Force and turned to enemies when the latter fell to the Dark Side.
But the other reason these two are so often associated as a pair is that they get along so well — even when they’re just talking Star Wars. They recently had the chance to reminisce about their first endeavors into the franchise and working together now that they’ve appeared side-by-side in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and their memories are positive.
Speaking with E! News, the two actors looked back on their favorite moments filming the prequel films together — just in time for their on-screen Star Wars reunion to come to an end.
“I remember my first shot in the film,” Hayden said. “My first time working with you [Ewan]. Picking up the lightsaber for the first time. So many great memories, it’s hard to pick a favorite.”
“I have such fond memories,” McGregor agreed, looking back on his Star Wars debut in 1999’s The Phantom Menace. “It felt so good to come back to it.”
“Of course when we got to Episode III and we had our big fight against each other, that was the most fun for me,” he said. “I think we both took it really seriously, too. We were having so much fun, but it was really intense and rewarding.”
Returning to Star Wars truly meant something special to both actors, who will likely make their final Star Wars appearances for quite some time in next week’s Kenobi finale.
“That day when we both walked on set was quite something else,” McGregor said. Christensen, too, couldn’t wait to return, saying: “”When I got the call that I was going to get to come back with you and reunite as these characters, It was mind-blowing.”
In “Part V,” McGregor and Christensen appeared in a series of flashbacks as their original characters, dueling in the past as their current selves sparred internally. Kenobi and Vader may meet face-to-face again, but the next time this happens will be in A New Hope. That’s already happened in our universe, but connecting bridges between different points in the timeline is something Star Wars gets better and better at with each new story.
Obi-Wan Kenobi stars Ewan McGregor with appearances by Hayden Christensen and Kumail Nanjiani and is directed by Deborah Chow, who previously directed an episode of The Mandalorian. The series is streaming now exclusively on Disney+.
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