If Star Wars: The Force Awakens put Star Wars back on the modern cinematic map, then Rogue One: A Star Wars Story solidified the franchise's box office power beyond the Skywalker saga. As a result, Disney and Lucasfilm are pushing forward with their shared universe, adding scores of new, fascinating characters every year and expanding upon legacy favorites, such as Han Solo and (possibly) Boba Fett, through the standalone films. Another rumored focal point for the newly christened anthology series is the galaxy's first true Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Although his time in the original trilogy was brief, Kenobi exemplified the noble spirit and selflessness of his Order – something which fans realized wasn’t quite so black and white after the prequel trilogy. Although many longtime fans lambasted Episodes I-III, they were still thrilled by Ewan McGregor’s performance, which channeled Alec Guinness and fleshed out the noble general. Fans gained further insight into Kenobi during The Clone Wars animated series, which explored his character's true fallibilities – like Anakin, he’d fallen in love and wrestled with his own dark side at times.
Old Ben's brief time on Rebels, which wrapped up his decade’s long beef with Darth Maul, also proved the character's continuing popularity. As one of the far-away galaxy's most intriguing and beloved heroes, is the time right for his return to the big screen?
Admittedly, Kenobi is one of the Jedi with the most face-time throughout the saga as a whole, even appearing as a whisper in Episode VII. His early years have been thoroughly covered, from his Padawan days to his development into one of the galaxy’s greatest defenders and a powerful leader in his own right. Audiences enjoyed him at his peak, before his climactic duel with his friend and former Padawan Anakin Skywalker, as well as at his wisest, when he sacrificed his life to become Luke's guide to the Force. Aside from a Force-ghost movie, there’s little left for the character after Return of the Jedi as well.
Since Kenobi's exile on Tatooine is a direct result of the fallout from Episode III, there are few storytelling avenues available. So setting a possible Obi-Wanthology between the Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope seems like the best route, as it sets up several curious directions for Lucasfilm. While being stuck on a desert planet may seem limiting, a number intriguing options still exist – especially given Kenobi's inherent conflict between his prior life as a galaxy-saving hero and need to remain under the radar to ensure that Anakin’s son Luke remains well-hidden. Kenobi's curious moral quandary, as well as his deeper exploration of the Force, would form the backbone of an Obi-Wan solo film and could offer fascinating new insights into the character and his activities before the Rebellion.
At one point, rumors circulated about Zack Snyder chatting with Lucasfilm about a Seven Samurai or Western-inspired tale, something which could work very well for a movie about the Jedi-expatriate. Since the story is tied to the rise of the Empire – something McGregor seemed interested in exploring – rounding up more than one “samurai” would take a lot of doing. On the other hand, a tale where Kenobi pits two criminal factions against one another (as in Yojimbo) or resolves a conflict between the Jabba the Hutt and the moisture farmers (much like the seventh issue of Marvel’s ongoing Star Wars comic) has a lot of potential.
Next Page: [valnet-url-page page=2 paginated=0 text='Where%20Does%20Kenobi%20Fit%3F']
Although Kenobi generally remains planet-bound thanks to his Luke-watching duties, his solo film isn't necessarily trapped on Tatooine. The exiled Jedi clearly knows his way around Mos Eisley’s hives of scum and villainy and could be forced – due to a similar situation to his confrontation with Maul in Rebels – to catch a ride off-planet and deal with some loose threads from his past. Something connected to his Clone Wars-era missions could bring him warily out of retirement and push him into one last undercover task. Recent supplemental and Star Wars Legends material also provides potential storyline inspiration, including his contentious relationship with Uncle Owen in the Star Wars ongoing comic or even the non-canonical Kenobi novel by John Jackson Miller.
Rogue One co-writer Gary Whita believes Lucasfilm's Story Group will shift its focus from legacy to lesser-known characters in future. While Disney and Lucasfilm are still testing the waters, though, familiar scenarios and characters (like a mission to steal Death Star plans and Han Solo's younger days) will likely remain prevalent, at least until moviegoers are used to the formula. More than just a familiar face, though, an Obi-Wan movie would also be an excellent way to introduce periphery characters or even setup favorites like Ahsoka Tano (hint hint), Boba Fett or Mace Windu (presuming he survived, as Sam L. Jackson believes) for future anthologies.
Despite some critiques, The Force Awakens succeeded at giving fans what they craved (classic characters and story beats), as well as bridging gaps between younger audiences and longtime franchise followers. While Rogue One and the young Han Solo movie are undoubtedly aimed at general audiences, the subject matter and characters directly reference the classic trilogy. While he first appeared in the original trilogy, Kenobi's character evolved retroactively during Episodes I-III and The Clone Wars saga. A standalone starring McGregor's version would provide a familiar face but also a conflicted and complex Force user, one with decades of potential lore, despite his implicit link to the Skywalker story.
After the first rumors of an Obi-Wan spinoff made the rounds in 2014, many fans clamored for his return. The character clearly remains popular, even winning the “This Is Madness” tournament the same year. Enthusiasm for Obi-Wan isn't limited to fans, either, since he enjoys plenty of in-galaxy support: Uncle Owen actor Joel Edgerton recently expressed his interest in Kenobi's return. Rogue One scripter Whita also backed an Obi-Wan movie in December of 2016. Most importantly, Ewan McGregor is completely onboard (several times over) for reprising the Jedi Knight in a new light.
Without a doubt, Lucasfilm has a number of cinematic irons in the fire at this point, so they've probably explored the merits of an Obi-Wan movie already. The Mouse House could even announce the next Star Wars standalone as early as this summer, according to Kathleen Kennedy. The next installment could be anything in theory, but Lucasfilm would be wise to recognize Kenobi's pervasive popularity. Between his fan-favorite status, complex characterization, and connections to the lesser-explored regions of the Force, he'd make him an ideal candidate for the next anthology. The galaxy is more-than-ready for another Obi-Wan Kenobi adventure. In fact, we've got a good feeling about this.
