Our Only Hope Returns: Everything We Know So Far About Disney+'s Obi-Wan Series Starring Ewan McGregor!

Ever since audiences heard Princess Leia’s infamous call for help in Star Wars: A New Hope, one person has stood out amongst the rest as one of the franchises premiere characters. And that is, of course, the one and only Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Jedi Master responsible for Darth Vader has been a favorite in the Star Wars films as well as the animated titles, leaving fans wondering if he'll ever return to the fold. And now it seems we finally have our answer. Ewan McGregor, the man responsible for bringing the character to life in the Prequel films, is breaking out his Jedi robes and dusting off his blue lightsaber. That's right, Star Wars fanatics, an Obi-Wan Kenobi Series is heading for the Mouse’s new streaming platform, Disney+, with McGregor set to reprise the role. 

The series is still early in its developmental stages, so details are very scarce at this point. But what we do know for sure is that it will be taking place between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope. After a very long wait, fans will finally get to see the events that make up the 19-year gap leading up to where it all started. Witnessing the transformation from Jedi Master to Tatooine Hermit will allow the character to come full circle and finally complete his journey. Disney sees the character's potential for glory on the small screen and is pulling out all the stops to outdo the competition. And they could even go back further. It's not out of this world to think that Disney could de-age the 48-year-old Scottish actor to see some more of his early days as an apprentice. Seeing some adventures before the Prequels or a live-action version of what’s been done in "The Clone Wars" would be something both old and new Star Wars fans could easily get behind. 

The character was first brought to life by Academy Award winner Sir Alec Guinness in the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope. There, he taught Luke Skywalker and moviegoers all over the world about the ways of the Force. Then, after giving a quick Jedi rundown, the beloved mentor was struck down by the evil Darth Vader, his former apprentice and friend. He continues throughout the Original Trilogy in spirit form, and of all the famous characters in this space opera, Kenobi resonated exceptionally well with fans. Thus prompting his return in the prequels, this time brought to life by McGregor, which put him on the map and made him a household name. His character has continued on without him in "The Clone Wars" and "Rebels", as well as assorted literature, so there's a lot of source material to take from. But the question is, what will we get to see when the 6-8 episode affair inevitably arrives?

There is a lot of Obi-Wan Kenobi history to pull from in the Star Wars canon. We know that his time in exile lines up with the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story. In that film, we learn that Jabba The Hutt is setting up his criminal outfit on Tatooine. Obi-Wan could feel compelled to thwart the rising crime in Mos Eisley masked-vigilante style. This disruption in crime could garner the attention of the Crimson Dawn, the criminal organization from Solo that Qi’ra was a part of. Her character could return, but more importantly, so could her boss, Darth Maul. The horn-headed Sith Lord and Obi-Wan have quite the history. Their encounters have resulted in some fo the best lightsaber duels in the entire Star Wars universe, which is saying something. Seeing those two square off again would be something all fans have been dying to see since their first showdown. Also, if the de-aging process happens, it would be great to see Qui-Gon return, and Liam Neeson has said he’d be down to revisit the role in the past. Whatever direction Lucasfilm decides to go with the Kenobi series, it's safe to say fans will not be disappointed. 

Disney+ wants to make an impact in the battle for screen occupancy dominance, and bringing a Kenobi series into the mix could very well help put them over the top. This is a character who is a beloved part of the Original Trilogy, arguably one of the only good parts of the Prequel Trilogy, and someone whose legacy has only continued to grow immensely across all other forms of media attached to the franchise. He is one of the few people not named Skywalker that has been a significant player since it all started. It will be nice to see the iconic Jedi Master once again. A big thank you to McGregor for returning to play Kenobi, because for this to work, he is truly our only hope!