With Darth Vader's shadow looming over the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, an iconic Star Wars image appears to be a significant spoiler. Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi is back in action for a self-titled Disney+ series. The first trailer for the show featured a heavy dose of nostalgia, including John Williams' "Duel of the Fates" from the Star Wars prequel movies. Obi-Wan Kenobi hides out from the Empire on Tatooine in the series, watching over Luke Skywalker from afar. All the while, the Empire appears to be on the Jedi's heels, and Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) is keen for a lightsaber rematch. In fact, Darth Vader may ultimately play a more prominent role in the series than previously thought.
Obi-Wan Kenobi expands on Disney+'s growing catalog of Star Wars content. Disney kicked off its streaming Star Wars shows with its incredibly successful 2019 series, The Mandalorian. The show then helped launch a spinoff featuring Temuera Morrison's Boba Fett, which further expanded on The Mandalorian lore by bringing back Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin, Grogu/Baby Yoda, and a younger version of Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker. Though Disney bills Obi-Wan Kenobi as a limited series, the show has the potential for added seasons and could further expand Disney's Star Wars streaming universe.
Though Ewan McGregor's character is the subject of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader appears to be an integral part of the series. With that in mind, the Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker shadow image from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace may come into play. With the series capitalizing on Star Wars prequels nostalgia, Anakin Skywalker's past will undoubtedly weigh on the Jedi's decisions with Obi-Wan Kenobi's young Luke Skywalker. Now that Obi-Wan Kenobi has witnessed the power of the dark side firsthand, the image may hint at his internal struggle in the upcoming series.
The Darth Vader/Anakin's Shadow Poster Explained
The Phantom Menace first teased Anakin's dark turn to Darth Vader in a 1998 movie theater poster. The iconic Star Wars image showcased Jake Lloyd's young Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine, casting the shadow of Darth Vader behind him. Lucasfilm released two versions of the image, with Anakin casting the shadow over the desert in one and another one-sheet with Anakin's shadow covering a Tatooine hut behind him. The poster came from a collaboration between Phantom Menace concept artist Ellen Lee and Jim Ward, who was Lucasfilm's VP of marketing. The image subtly connects the prequels to George Lucas' original series, revealing how a young, innocent child would become one of the most sinister villains in movie history.
Though The Phantom Menace received mixed reviews during its release, subsequent rereleases had the film's Rotten Tomatoes score going on a roller coaster of ups and downs. However, nostalgia for the film has been growing in recent years, with fans even warmly welcoming its stars back to various Star Wars Celebration gatherings. And despite the reviews and varying public opinion, the poster remains an iconic piece of the franchise's history, marking Star Wars' return to theaters after more than a 15-year hiatus.
How The Star Wars Image Comes Back Into Play
Obi-Wan Kenobi gives a heavy dose of nostalgia in its first trailer. "Duel of the Fates" sets the tone for the show, indicating the Star Wars prequels will serve as an anchor for the series. In addition to Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi coming back for the series, Joel Edgerton's Owen Lars also returns. And Luke Skywalker's guardian looks apprehensive as the Empire hunts down Jedi or Jedi sympathizers and hangs them in Tatooine. Additionally, as Obi-Wan watches over Luke from afar, he sees Anakin's son emulating his father. Luke Skywalker seemingly dreams of being a pilot like his father and imitates Anakin's looks as a child. He even appears to wear Anakin's old goggles while pretending to compete in podracing as his father did years ago.
Obi-Wan Kenobi's past with Darth Vader is key to the series. After all, reports indicate that Darth Maul was written out of Obi-Wan Kenobi to make room for Lord Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi writer Joby Harold teased in an interview (via Entertainment Weekly) that Darth Vader's "shadow" is cast across the entire show. "And the degree of his proximity to that shadow is something that we'll discover," Harold said. The writer's words evoke images of the Darth Vader poster, bringing the iconic Phantom Menace image right back to the forefront. Much like Vader's shadow looms in the poster, it also looms over the series.
Obi-Wan Kenobi's Internal Struggle Revealed
The Phantom Menace poster is essentially Obi-Wan's internal struggle illustrated. The Jedi Master witnessed Anakin's talent and power firsthand while guiding the young Jedi on his journey. He loved Anakin and pleaded with Yoda (Frank Oz) to go after the Emperor instead of his friend. "He is like my brother," Obi-Wan said in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. He also saw how the dark side corrupted Anakin, turning him into a monster that eventually became one of the most villainous characters in pop culture. All of that history will be on full display during Obi-Wan Kenobi. With the parallels between Anakin and Luke, Obi-Wan may have a constant itch to help Luke hone his skills. But, of course, Darth Vader's shadow is never far behind. Much like Obi-Wan Kenobi sees potential in Luke Skywalker, he could also see shades of what his father became. Obi-Wan's internal struggle with what to do about Luke (and potentially Leia) could be at the forefront of the series.
Additionally, Star Wars loves callbacks. The Star Wars filmmakers constantly have history repeat itself and thrust past moments into the spotlight throughout its movies and TV shows. For instance, The Book of Boba Fett immediately shows Temuera Morrison's character struggling with the Sarlacc as he did in 1983's Return of the Jedi. Additionally, 2015's The Force Awakens essentially retreads a lot of the same ground as A New Hope. Disney stuffed the Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer with Easter eggs and moments that conjure feelings of nostalgia for the prequel trilogy. If Darth Vader's shadow is looming over the series, look no further than The Phantom Menace poster and Obi-Wan's internal struggle for where things are headed.