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After a whopping 17 years away from the “Star Wars” universe, Ewan McGregor returns this week as our beloved bearded Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi. “Persistence, you will need to have,” INDEED.
However what was Grasp Kenobi as much as once we noticed him final? Does one want to look at a number of animated sequence to know what’s occurring? And what breadcrumbs has Disney dropped concerning the plot of “Obi-Wan Kenobi”?
For those who’re as misplaced as C-3PO and R2-D2 have been on sandy Tatooine, concern not. Right here’s every part you’ll want to know earlier than “Obi-Wan Kenobi” premieres on Friday.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” is sandwiched between the prequels and authentic trilogy. Disney+ says that the sequence takes place about 10 years after “Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,” which noticed Obi-Wan go into hiding.
This implies Luke and Leia are round 10 years previous at this level within the “Star Wars” timeline, and Anakin is only a decade into being Darth Vader. Obi-Wan is protecting tabs on Luke from afar, nicely on his solution to turning into “Outdated Ben.” (Although, to be truthful to McGregor, his Obi-Wan is extra of a “Center-Aged and Growing older Gracefully Ben.”)
Don’t have time to spend six-plus hours watching the prequels? Right here’s a crash course on what Obi-Wan was as much as in “Episodes I-III.”
“Episode I”: Obi-Wan, then Padawan to Qui-Gon Jin, meets a younger, sprightly Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine, the place “Ani” and his mom are enslaved. Qui-Gon, sure that Anakin is the “chosen one” based mostly on his midichlorian depend (don’t ask), is killed by Darth Maul, however duties Obi-Wan with coaching younger Anakin.
“Episode II”: Obi-Wan, now Grasp to a moodier, sand-averse Anakin, checks out what’s taking place on Kamino, the place a Clone military has been secretly commissioned, and wars with Jango Fett. Anakin and Obi-Wan are shut, although Anakin eschews Obi-Wan’s logical methods to comply with his impulses.
“Episode III”: Anakin embraces the Darkish Aspect and duels Obi-Wan on Mustafar, the place Anakin turns into Vader. Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious instructions the Clone military to execute Order 66 (aka, kill all Jedi). They principally succeed, although they fail to kill two of a very powerful Jedi – Yoda and Obi-Wan, the latter of whom is distraught by the lack of his “brother.”
In all probability not, except you’re into homework and good TV. A number of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” characters are launched within the animated sequence “Star Wars Rebels,” which is streaming on Disney+. (Extra on these shady characters beneath.) “Rebels” takes place after “Episode III,” like this present, and Obi-Wan makes a memorable look within the third season.
On this sequence, we’ll meet the “Inquisitors,” a society of skilled hunters who’re steeped within the Darkish Aspect.
First launched in “Rebels,” their chief is the Grand Inquisitor, performed now by Rupert Good friend. Inquisitors, oddly, use lightsabers in battle (simply wait till Moses Ingram, who performs Inquisitor Reva, wields her double-edged, spinning crimson saber – Darth Maul is quaking). Yep, lightsabers aren’t reserved for Jedi and Sith anymore – and never each Drive wielder belongs to a type of two orders.
Talking of Sith, the Inquisitors work for one – Darth Vader, who desires them to trace down one Jedi Knight particularly.
The daddy of all Skywalkers is BACK and badder than ever. “Obi-Wan Kenobi” marks the return of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader, a job he absolutely embodied for just a few minutes on the shut of “Episode III.”
So what’s Vader as much as after he misplaced his spouse, believed his kids died and lower ties with Obi-Wan (who in flip lower off a number of of his limbs)? The trailer skimps on specifics, however we will assume that he’s nonetheless a loud mouth-breather centered on quashing the rising Insurgent Alliance and discovering our titular Jedi. Put together the tissues for his or her inevitable reunion.
Within the trailer, we see Obi-Wan watching a boy in pod-racing goggles pretending to pilot a ship. We are able to presume this child is a younger Luke Skywalker, who seems to be across the similar age as his father was when Qui-Gon discovered him.
Younger Luke lives with Owen Lars, the son of Cliegg Lars, who married Anakin’s mom, Shmi. Owen and his spouse, Beru, elevate Luke on their humble moisture farm and preserve the reality of his parentage from him, however Obi-Wan is aware of he’s destined for extra.
Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse will reprise their roles from the prequels as Owen and Beru, although hopefully they’ll get a bit extra display time to flesh out the characters earlier than they meet their very violent finish in “Episode IV.”
There positive are! Becoming a member of OGs McGregor and Christensen are comic Kumail Nanjiani, “Straight Outta Compton’s” O’Shea Jackson Jr. and “Uncut Gems” co-director Benny Safdie, amongst others.
We haven’t seen footage of any of them aside from Nanjiani, who’s within the trailer for a break up second, wanting distressed. In any other case, we don’t know who the celebrities are taking part in – a enjoyable shock because the sequence rolls out.