While George Lucas’ Prequel Trilogy has come in for an enormous amount of criticism from fans of the saga, one aspect that most can agree is worthy of the Star Wars name is Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Well, as it turns out, despite being a huge fan of the franchise, McGregor almost passed on the role of Obi-Wan, as he felt it may have been too mainstream for him at that point in his career.
“Star Wars is Star Wars, it’s something I grew up with as a kid,” McGregor told Telegraph Magazine. “At first, I was very reluctant to do it, because I saw myself as this urban, grungy actor doing films about heroin and stuff, and that’s who I felt like I really was. But the nearer I got to it, the more I wanted to do it: and it wasn’t for money reasons, because it was back in the day I got paid nicely for it, but it wasn’t ridiculous by any means. It was to do with being in it and it didn’t feel like Hollywood. George Lucas hated Hollywood; he was in San Francisco following the beat of his own drum.”
Such is the popularity of McGregor’s Kenobi that there is huge support among fans for an Obi-Wan spinoff movie, something the actor has admitted he’d be very keen to do should the opportunity arise. It’s also been rumoured that he may reprise the role for Star Wars: Episode VIII, having made a brief cameo – in voice only – in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Originally published November 13, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
