Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse officially join the Obi-Wan Kenobi cast, returning as Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, respectively. With the Star Wars movies on hiatus for the next couple of years, Lucasfilm has turned their attention to a full slate of new Star Wars TV shows coming to Disney+. One of the most anticipated projects in this lineup is Obi-Wan Kenobi, which sees Ewan McGregor finally return as the titular Jedi after years of speculation. As revealed during Disney's Investors Day event in December 2020, the show also sees Hayden Christensen reprise Darth Vader.
With Obi-Wan Kenobi chronicling its subject's exile on Tatooine, there seemed to be an opportunity for even more familiar faces to be featured. During this period in the Star Wars timeline, a young Luke Skywalker was growing up with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Edgerton and Piesse played these characters in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and for a while Edgerton's been open about his willingness to return. Edgerton teased his involvement in Obi-Wan a couple of years ago, and now it's official.
As Obi-Wan Kenobi gears up to start production soon, Lucasfilm announced the principal cast. Edgerton and Piesse are among 10 newcomers to the ensemble, joining the previously confirmed McGregor and Christensen. Take a look at the full list below:
Star Wars canon has fleshed out Obi-Wan's exile in other materials, detailing a tense dynamic between Obi-Wan and Owen. The two never saw eye-to-eye on what was best for Luke, with Owen wishing the Jedi would stay out of his family's affairs. It should be interesting to watch those interactions play out onscreen, especially since Obi-Wan will still be dealing with his failure with Anakin. Any scenes between Obi-Wan and Owen have the potential to add depth to A New Hope, which alluded to Owen's feelings about the "crazy old man." It would be great if the show could complement the original Star Wars film in a way that elevates Owen, who was a minor supporting character in the movies.
Since Owen and Beru are returning, there is a possibility young Luke will be seen on Obi-Wan Kenobi. The updated cast list makes no mention of a child actor taking on the role, but Lucasfilm could be holding that back as a surprise, a la Baby Yoda on The Mandalorian. It also remains to be seen how big a role the Lars family will have, as plot details are being kept under wraps for now. Obviously, Luke is a key part of Obi-Wan's story, but the show also features a wide-spanning supporting cast in a number of mystery roles. Even if Edgerton and Piesse aren't in every episode, it'll be exciting to see what Obi-Wan Kenobi has in store for them.
Source: Lucasfilm