Ewan McGregor talks about a STAR WARS Obi-Wan spin-off

No, its not an April fools joke – but for my sake, lets say it should be. I’m not really excited for any of the planned Star Wars spin-off films that are being developed, which includes Rogue Squadron and the Hans Solo movies. I’m a huge Star Wars fan, but like things the way they have been done, in big episodic formats with lots of gaps in between. I have had no interest to go back and wonder what went on in between. For me, that’s part of the magic of the films, but it seems Disney is hoping Star Wars fans think differently. And to be honest, who can blame them, after all the money they made with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, they are only trying to maximize on their investment.

One such spin-off that is doing its travelling through the rumour mill is an Obi-Wan solo film in a similar vain as the Hans Solo spin-off being developed. Except instead of needing to search for a new actor, they can use Ewan McGregor who has already portrayed the character in the 3 prequel trilogies (and the latest movie if you listen carefully too) and for the most part, did a solid job portraying the character.

Collider recently interviewed him about his upcoming Biopic Miles Ahead and spoke to him about the possibility of reprising the character in a film.

I’d very much like to do one too. I think the story between Episode III and Episode IV, I think there’s a story there. I think that’s the Obi-Wan Kenobi movie, if there is one. The one that bridges my Obi-Wan Kenobi and Alec’s Obi-Wan Kenobi because there’s a—I don’t know how long he’s in the desert there, but it’s got to be twenty or thirty years.

Word of an actual movie being in development is all pure rumour for now though as Disney has not formally announced anything. When pressed if has actually met with Kathleen Kennedy he simply responded

I’m not sure I’m at liberty to say, really, but I’m very interested in doing that. That would be great. Maybe there’s even a trilogy! (laughs)

While I certainly hope there is no trilogy in the works for him. He is obviously a big part of the Star Wars universe though as an actor and has his own thoughts on the most recent film as well.

 I liked it. Funnily enough, we had a test preview of the film I directed,American Pastoral, in Pasadena with 300 people, and they fill in cards after test screenings to tell you what they thought about your film. And of course when you do that, you have to check the print before you get 300 people in. So that happened in the morning; we’re all sitting in Pasadena and we’d all finished watching American Pastoral, and we’re all happy—it looks good, it sounds good, we’re good, we’re ready. And then I had like four hours before the audience arrived. So instead of just wandering around Pasadena, I was in a cinema multiplex, and they were playing Star Wars, and I hadn’t seen it yet. So I said, “Okay guys, I’ll see you in a couple of hours!” So I went from my film—I got some popcorn—and watched Star Wars, and I loved it.

I really loved it. I thought it was great. I thought he did an amazing job. I was very excited to hear my voice come in. “That was me!”

Obviously with the character of Obi-wan being a force ghost and with Sir Alec Guiness sadly having passed away – are there any plans for McGregor to reprise the role in the current trilogy:

I don’t know anything about it. I’m really not in the picture with the Star Wars trilogy. As far as I know, I would be Alec Guinness by now, so I don’t know how that would work. I really don’t know and I haven’t had any discussions with anyone about it. To play Obi-Wan Kenobi again would be something I would love to do in one of the spin-off movies. If that were to happen in one of their trilogies, I would be up for that, but I don’t know how that would happen. I’m sure some of the Star Wars fans would come up with an idea of how that could happen.

Personally, it would make no sense for him to play the role of a Force ghost, as Alec Guinness already fulfilled this in the original trilogy and having McGregor play it here would just break that continuity. I personally hope this solo film doesn’t happen. While some may want to know what happened to the character during the 30 year gap between trilogies, I think the films are fine without knowing these gaps and makes the movies more powerful s the resurgence of the Jedi in the original trilogy is more meaningful with Obi-Wan in hiding for this entire period. What do you think – is this a spin-off you would be interested in?

You can find the full interview here:

 

Last Updated: April 1, 2016