While Star Wars fans are giddy with anticipation for the return of two of the franchise’s most iconic characters, celebrities Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, in ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’, which premieres May 27, there is a grey cloud in the sky. The new Disney+ offering is described as a six-episode limited series, which means fans only get six episodes.
Ewan McGregor, the favorite bearded Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, returns to the ’Star Wars’ universe this week after a huge 17-year absence. The prequels and the original trilogy are sandwiched around Obi-Wan Kenobi. According to Disney+, the story is set 10 years after ’Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,’ in which Obi-Wan went into hiding.
Fans will encounter the ’Inquisitors’ in this series, a society of trained hunters entrenched in the Dark Side.
The Grand Inquisitor, first seen in ‘Rebels,’ is their leader, who is currently played by Rupert Friend. Strangely, inquisitors fight with lightsabers. Lightsabers are no longer exclusive to Jedi and Sith — and not every Force wielding belongs to one of those two orders.
Speaking of Sith, the Inquisitors work for one: Darth Vader, who wants them to find a specific Jedi Knight. Yes, the father of all Skywalkers has returned, stronger than ever. Hayden Christensen reprises his role as Darth Vader in ’Obi-Wan Kenobi,’ a role he played for only a few minutes at the end of ’Episode III.’
Vader, who has lost his wife, believes his children are dead, and has severed relations with ’Obi-Wan, who hacked off some of his limbs. The teaser is light on details, but it can be presumed he is still a loud mouth-breather intent on stifling the budding Rebel Alliance and locating the titular Jedi. Their reunion is inevitable.
Young Luke lives with Owen Lars, the son of Cliegg Lars, Anakin’s mother Shmi’s husband. Owen and his wife, Beru, raise Luke on their small moisture farm while concealing his parentage, but Obi-Wan senses he is destined for more. As Owen and Beru, Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse will repeat their roles from the prequels, though they meet their tragic end in ’Episode IV.’
Among those joining McGregor and Christensen are comedian Kumail Nanjiani, ’Straight Outta Compton’ star O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Benny Safdie, co-director of ’Uncut Gems.’ Except for Nanjiani, who appears in the trailer for a single second, there is no other footage of them. There could be a pleasant surprise regarding other celebs as the series progresses.
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