(Los Angeles) More than fifteen years after his last appearance as a Jedi Knight, Ewan McGregor has learned the lessons of age and experience to take on the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi again, in the new series from the same name devoted to Star Wars.
Posted at 7:38 p.m.
When it was released in 1999, The Phantom Menace, a new episode in a saga that fans had long mourned after the initial trilogy, had aroused great enthusiasm. But the film had disappointed more than one with its often agreed dialogues, its convoluted politico-spatial intrigue and the wacky Jar Jar Binks.
For Ewan McGregor, who took over the iconic role of Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi played by Alec Guinness at the time, the experience was painful.
“One of the challenges for me being in those prequels is that they didn’t seem to be well-received when they came out,” the actor said at a conference call. virtual press organized to present the Disney+ series.
“As there were no social networks, there was no direct connection with the fans at the time. And also, the fans were children, ”he notes.
But with hindsight, Ewan McGregor has seen that the trilogy in which he took part has found favor in the eyes of Star Wars fans, especially the youngest.
“It reconciled me a bit with these films, I think, and also with my experience within the Star Wars universe,” explained the actor.
Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker alongside him, are back for a six-episode miniseries set chronologically between the events of the prequels and the first Star Wars movie released in 1977.
More precisely, Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place ten years after the tragic conclusion of Revenge of the Sith where the evil Emperor Palpatine seizes power and turns Kenobi’s young apprentice to the Dark Side, who becomes the sinister Darth Vader.
The Jedi Knight played by McGregor leads a gloomy and disillusioned life on the desert Tatooine.
“For ten years, Obi-Wan hides, he cannot communicate with any of his former comrades and he is really isolated”, says the actor.
“He can’t use the Force. So somehow he lost faith. He is like someone who has moved away from his religion… The only responsibility he has left from his past life is to watch over Luke Skywalker, ”he underlines.
Kenobi will not be bored for very long since he finds himself struggling with the Inquisitors, terrifying villains charged by the Empire to eradicate the few surviving Jedi.
Inspired by Alec Guinness
Obi-Wan Kenobi results from Disney’s recent decision to move the very rich and lucrative Star Wars universe from cinema to television.
The saga must play a central role in the commercial strategy of Disney+, the video-on-demand platform launched by the world’s number one entertainment company.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will soon be followed by the series Andorprequel to the film RogueOnethen by a new season of success The Mandalorian.
Other Star Wars series are in development, including Ahsoka and The Acolyte.
Disney, on the other hand, chose to ease off on films after the disappointing performance of Solo in 2018. The most conservative fans did not appreciate seeing a young actor succeed Harrisson Ford to play the iconic space smuggler.
Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy admitted that, in retrospect, it was a bad idea.
To avoid this kind of reaction, the series The Mandalorian has thus preferred to use advanced technologies to artificially rejuvenate the stars of the original films, even to generate by computer digital avatars of actors now deceased.
This does not prevent Ewan McGregor from following in the footsteps of Alec Guinness, a star from whom he says he continues to draw inspiration.
“Now that I’m getting closer to Alec Guinness’ age, it’s getting interesting…my Obi-Wan is a little closer to his,” the 51-year-old actor said.
“It’s all from Alec Guinness. He always had that mischievous glint in his eyes… the twinkling eye. I always try to think of him, to feel him not far away, to hear him say his text, ”he explains.
The first two episodes ofObi-Wan Kenobi will be available on Disney+ from May 27.