The interactions between young Princess Leia and Obi-Wan in Obi-Wan Kenobi were a highlight of the show, and there is actually a connection between how Ewan McGregor played those scenes and Obi-Wan’s scenes with Anakin in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Taking many by surprise, Obi-Wan Kenobi was centered around the kidnapping of a young Leia Organa, who then had to be rescued by Obi-Wan. The idea that Leia was the only person in the galaxy who could make Obi-Wan leave Tatooine made a lot of sense, and it led to Obi-Wan and Leia interactions that audiences had never thought of seeing.
Crafting an Obi-Wan Kenobi series set between Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope would always be a challenge. There was a considerable gap in Obi-Wan’s story during that period that had so far only been filled by the Star Wars comics, and any significant event involving Obi-Wan after Revenge of the Sith would risk retconning A New Hope. That said, Obi-Wan Kenobi would not work if it was entirely set on Tatooine as many theorized – which is why the Leia storyline was so important.
Vivien Lyra Blair’s Leia Organa captured the magic of what a young Leia would look like throughout the whole show, but Leia’s scenes with Obi-Wan were particularly special. There was an instant bond between the characters, even though Leia did not trust Obi-Wan at first. Obi-Wan himself was also not very open to creating a connection with Leia, which led to a hilarious “reluctant father/lively daughter” dynamic. According to Ewan McGregor during the Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi’s Return Disney+ special, the way Obi-Wan initially acted towards Leia mirrors how Obi-Wan treated Anakin in Attack of the Clones, in which Obi-Wan was not ready to be a teacher but had to oversee an unpredictable student. Episode II’s Anakin was reckless and full of energy, which is very similar to how Leia acted in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Once again, Obi-Wan was not ready to be a mentoring figure, but had to step up on behalf of Anakin’s daughter.
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Princess Leia Role Made Any Canon Inconsistencies Worth It
Nothing in A New Hope suggests that Leia and Obi-Wan were longtime friends, which means Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Leia storyline was bound to create Star Wars retcons. However, considering all other Star Wars canon inconsistencies, having Obi-Wan meet a young Princess Leia was worth it. The on-screen dynamic between Ewan McGregor and Vivien Lyra Blair worked perfectly, and the interactions between Obi-Wan and Leia felt truthful to who those characters are. According to Ewan McGregor, Obi-Wan’s first scenes with Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi were shot when he and Vivien Lyra Blair had just met – which added to the initial awkwardness between the two characters. Young Princess Leia was the heart of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the primary reason why Obi-Wan had to rebuild his spirit. As such, the addition of Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi was more than justified – it was necessary.
Of all the ways Obi-Wan could have been reminded of Anakin Skywalker in Obi-Wan Kenobi, becoming friends with a young Leia Organa was the most creative one. The Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi no longer existed, but Ben Kenobi still had a teacher’s quality in him. Fortunately, Obi-Wan was able to tell Leia about her parents and what they meant to him – even though he could never tell her the whole truth.