Obi-Wan Kenobi executive producer Joby Harold recently discussed how some elements of the upcoming series came from a strikingly similar albeit abandoned project.
Speaking to SFX Magazine, Harold remarked on how much his series borrowed from an unmade Obi-Wan film. He explained, "We certainly interited a lot of ideas from the [story] developments in the past, but there's also a lot of new directions and ideas we explored, building off some of those things we inherited." He added, "It feels lovely that it's now this limited series, because it gives you enough room to really build the character out; you can actually now spend some time with Obi-Wan in his normal world before some of the things you saw in the teaser transpire."
In 2017, Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry was recruited by Lucasfilm to develop an Obi-Wan feature film. The project was shelved following the lackluster response to the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story starring Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, and Donald Glover. Obi-Wan Kenobi star Ewan McGregor previously commented on the cinematic nature of the upcoming series, saying, "The technology is so different from when we made the original movies that it felt like a different experience anyway." McGregor continued, "But because Deb directed them all and it's her singular vision throughout, it did feel like we were just making one movie. And the episodic nature of our series falls really cleverly in the story line, but it is one driving narrative."
Obi-Wan Kenobi is set to follow the titular Jedi's life in exile following the rise to power of the Galactic Empire. The series also marks the return of Hayden Christensen to the role of Darth Vader, who last played the character in 2005's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Vader will be joined in his hunt for any remaining Jedi by Rupert Friend's Grand Inquisitor, a Force sensitive assassin who first appeared in 2013's Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series.
Obi-Wan Kenobi director Deborah Chow has also discussed the series and its exploration of its titular hero, saying, "I think I was the most excited about getting the opportunity to do a character driven story." She then explained, "In a similar way, you know, obviously it's a different tone, but something like Joker or Logan where, you know, you take one character out of a big franchise and then you really have the time and you go a lot deeper with the character."
Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on Disney+ on May 27.
Source: SFX
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