"Hello There!" First Official Look At 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Series
Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most anticipated new Star Wars projects in recent memory, seeing as Obi-Wan is among the most pivotal and beloved characters of the entire saga; wise, powerful, with just the right amount of charismatic wit. Fans have been eagerly waiting to see what the character can do when given the space of his own series. Now, we finally have some information and on-set images to whet our appetite for the May 25th debut.
The "first look" images come from Entertainment Weekly, along with a bold cover featuring the titular character himself. As if the new streaming series needed help building hype, the article and accompanying series of images provide some interesting new nuggets of information about Kenobi. From lead actor Ewan McGregor on Tatooine, to the suspected lead antagonist (portrayed by Moses Ingram), there's lots to dig into here.
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What we know about the show so far is limited. Obi-Wan is in hiding on Tatooine after Order 66, watching over a young Luke as he is raised by his aunt and uncle. While Andor has been billed as the stealthy spy show, there will undoubtedly be plenty of sneaking around on Kenobi, as the Jedi are Imperial Enemy #1 these days and Darth Vader and the Inquisitorius are on the hunt.
While the above cave has been described as a "sparse dwelling" in the EW article, that may be underselling it. We've seen Old Ben's hut on Tatooine and, unless that was a later construction, it is where one would expect Obi-Wan to be currently taking up residence. Could it be possible this cave is instead another nexus of Force energy? Similar to Dagobah, the Jedi Outpost on Lothal, or numerous Fallen Order locations. Has Kenobi gone here to meditate or seek knowledge? Could we have a duel here with Vader, similar to Luke's "encounter" with the Sith on Dagobah? If this is the case, and this "Force cave" is located on Tatooine, it could help explain the draw to this desolate desert world and provide an in-universe explanation why Star Wars storytelling keeps returning here.
As mentioned, Star Wars has returned to the Tatooine setting on numerous occasions, including most recently with Book of Boba Fett. Whether this is a good or bad thing is up for debate, and Boba Fett did impress with a fresh new look at Mos Espa. Kenobi is almost guaranteed to start and wrap up on Tatooine, given that is where we see Obi-Wan in the bookend films to the show, Revenge of the Sith and New Hope. It is confirmed that Obi-Wan will leave his exile and travel to at least one new world, Daiyu (seen below). Kenobi will mark the debut for this new planet that writer Joby Harold describes as having "a Hong Kong feel to it." Harold goes on to describe the new world in depth, saying; "It's got a graffiti-ridden nightlife, and is kind of edgy. It's just got a different lane and a different feeling." How much time the show will spend on Daiyu remains to be seen, as well as if Kenobi will travel to other new and/or familiar planets. Judging by the episodic images, Kenobi may have to contend with an Inquisitor on this new planet, and "graffiti-ridden" space Hong Kong sounds like a visually stunning setting for a saber duel between exiled Jedi Master and Imperial Inquisitor.
Owen and Beru Lars, Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle, are also confirmed to appear in the show, played by their prequel actors Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse. In the promotional images, we see Edgerton's Owen Lars nose-to-nose with Moses Ingram's new Inquisitor. Exactly what role the Lars homestead will play, and if we will see a 10 year old Luke, remain to be seen. However, we can't imagine that Owen and Beru will be too keen on Inquisitors coming to their remote homeworld in search of Obi-Wan and, potentially, their nephew.
Possibly the biggest piece of new information from the EW story is the plethora of details about Reva, the Imperial Inquisitor played by Moses Ingram (below). Show director Deborah Chow describes her as "ruthlessly ambitious", bringing to mind classic Star Wars villains such as Grand Admiral Thrawn, with Ingram describing her character as "all heart." This tenacity and relentlessness would make for a formidable Jedi hunter and opponent for our favorite bearded protagonist. Reva's Inquisitor armor is exceptionally designed in its simplicity and even in the images one can see her grim authority and cold confidence. Ingram is already proving to be a fascinating part of the show and her character, and the interactions with Darth Vader and Rupert Friend's Grand Inquisitor, are one of the components of the series I am most looking forward to.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is sure to receive a lot of hype, discussion, discourse, and critique leading up to, and especially after, its release. These images, as fascinating and tantalizing as they are, are merely a taste of what's to come. With the gifted Deborah Chow at the helm, having cut her teeth directing two of the best episodes of The Mandalorian, expectations are high. Hopefully this show will present an engaging and well-conceived narrative, expand our knowledge of the Force, try bold, new things in the galaxy far, far away, and be a fitting Star Wars story for a foundational, legacy character, Obi-Wan Kenobi. And an epic lightsaber duel or three wouldn't hurt either!
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