Obi-Wan Kenobi was conceived as a limited series for Disney+, but Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy won't rule out a season 2. The next Star Wars show slated to debut on Disney+ just might be the most anticipated one yet. Ever since the prequel trilogy came to a close in 2005, fans have wondered if Ewan McGregor might ever return to play Obi-Wan Kenobi. There were plans for a movie, but they fell apart in the wake of Solo: A Star Wars Story underperforming in 2018. Still, Lucasfilm knew the interest was there, and so Obi-Wan Kenobi the show was born.
Premiering on Disney+ at the end of May, Obi-Wan Kenobi picks up 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith. McGregor's Obi-Wan needs to lie low amid the Empire's efforts to wipe out the Jedi, and he's taken up residence on Tatooine so he can watch over a young Luke Skywalker. Beyond that, Obi-Wan Kenobi's story is a mystery, but a few additional details have been revealed. For one thing, Inquisitors are making their live-action debuts. For another, Hayden Christensen is returning as Darth Vader for another duel with his former mentor.
Right now, Obi-Wan Kenobi is positioned as a 6-episode limited series. However, in a recent EW cover story for the series, there was mention of a possible season 2. On one hand, director Deborah Chow stuck to the limited series angle, saying, "It was definitely conceived as a limited series, and it is one big story with a beginning, middle, and end. The approach has always been that it is one full story." On the other, Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy confirmed there have been some discussions about a potential continuation. She said:
"It's certainly something we talk about, mainly because everybody came together and had such an incredible time. Ewan had an incredible time. Hayden had an incredible time. So certainly from that point of view, everybody involved would love to see this not end. But we have to really spend our time asking the question: Why would we do it? If we were to decide to do anything more with the Obi-Wan character, we'd have to really answer the question why?"
Lucasfilm's Disney+ efforts have been a mixed bag so far in terms of longevity. Animated shows aside, The Mandalorian is set to return for a third season later this year while The Book of Boba Fett so far looks to be holding as a limited series. Disney+'s live-action Marvel shows, which often feel comparable to the Star Wars projects, are much of the same; only Loki so far will return for a second season. Obi-Wan Kenobi feels suited to be a limited series, and not only because it was written that way. McGregor's return as this beloved character truly feels like a special event that can't be replicated again.
Of course, if there is any property that knows how to keep the magic going, it's Star Wars. Characters are rarely gone for good in the galaxy far, far away, and there could be more stories ahead for Obi-Wan. It'll partially depend on how the first 6 episodes pan out; perhaps they will leave some threads dangling that could be woven into a season 2. A cliffhanger isn't likely, though. Fans will just have to see which road Lucasfilm chooses to take when it comes to Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres Wednesday, May 25 on Disney+.
Source: EW