Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor admitted initially feeling skeptical that he was the right fit for Star Wars after George Lucas had cast him in The Phantom Menace. Following a near-16 year wait after Return of the Jedi was released in 1983, Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace hit theaters in May 1999 and achieved significant box office success, grossing more than $1 billion against a budget of $115 million. The fourth Star Wars movie to be released, and the first of a brand new prequel trilogy, The Phantom Menace, was highly anticipated, though critical reviews were mixed.
The film took place 30 years before A New Hope and followed young Anakin Skywalker's journey to becoming feared Sith Lord Darth Vader. The Phantom Menace featured Jake Lloyd as Anakin, and McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi alongside his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson). McGregor had previously been known for critically successful yet ultimately much grimmer independent movies, like Trainspotting and Shallow Grave. Now, the actor is promoting his much-anticipated return to the character in the upcoming Disney+ show Obi-Wan Kenobi.
While McGregor gladly returned to the role, he told EW that he was apprehensive about joining a massive franchise portraying an already established character. The actor admits that he second-guessed himself during the casting process, even as he vied for the role. His skepticism was rooted in his place in Hollywood at that point as a fixture of gritty independent dramas.
"Star Wars didn't really feel right to me. Initially I was quite skeptical about doing it. I just thought, ''Well, I'm this independent, urban-y, grungy actor over here. I'm not this kind of guy.'"
It's fair to say that McGregor's casting could have been viewed as perhaps an unusual choice, as he was not well-known outside of the UK. However, it is often the case that unique casting choices can work out well, and McGregor would appear in all three prequel trilogy movies, playing an essential role in developing the character first made famous by Sir Alec Guinness.
McGregor may well have felt out of place when he first joined the cast of the Phantom Menace, but his legacy as a vital part of the Star Wars franchise has endured. Some 17 years after he last portrayed Obi-Wan on the big screen, the actor will revisit the character once again, though this time on the small screen, in the Disney+ miniseries, set 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith and due for release on May 25th. Obi-Wan Kenobi will be a six-episode miniseries, and it is unclear whether the character's story might expand beyond that point. Still, the show is rumored to feature another fan-favorite Jedi character. With the rich and detailed history of the Star Wars universe, it is undoubtedly possible McGregor might portray the famed Jedi Master for at least a bit longer.
Source: EW