The Introduction Of Legendary 'Star Wars' Characters In Kenobi Series Could Seriously Change 'Star Wars' Lore
Obi-Wan Kenobi, a limited six-part Disney+ series airing in May 2022, will apparently not only address Obi-Wan's chief role of watching over and protecting young Luke Skywalker but that Obi-Wan will also wind up playing an essential role in protecting the other Skywalker sibling, Princess Leia Organa. As we know from the finale of Revenge of The Sith, ten years before this series, Leia was entrusted to the care of the late Padme Amidala-Skywalker's closest ally in the Galactic Senate, Bail Organa, and his wife, Breha, Queen of Alderaan, which, until now, is where Leia is believed to have stayed for most of her life.
Now, we are learning that something happens to her, an abduction by an unknown force, bringing Obi-Wan off Tatooine to find and rescue her. It has also been heavily rumored that Obi-Wan will again face off against his former apprentice, Darth Vader, and even some rumors that the ultimate villain, Emperor Palpatine, may appear on the show. Obi-Wan leaving Tatooine to help Leia may ultimately set the stage for his reunion with Vader and conflict with the Empire. Previous articles have reported that a ten-year-old Princess Leia has already been cast for the series. Specifically Vivien Lyra Blair, previously known for Bird Box and We Can Be Heroes roles.
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So, what can we make out of the series with this slew of revelations? First, they will definitely change the lore about this period in Star Wars (canon) history, most notably what Obi-Wan was up to during the nineteen years between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One/A New Hope. I think it is safe to assume that most of us hardcore Star Wars fans believed that Obi-Wan came to Tatooine, delivered Luke to Owen and Beru Lars, and then planted his feet firmly in the sand for the next nineteen years, watching over Luke from a distance. However, if what is being described in these articles are for real (and there is no reason to assume they are not), then Obi-Wan's feet were perhaps not so firmly planted in the Tatooine sand after all, and that he had some off-world adventures as well, at least during this point in time.
Another potential significant change to Star Wars lore about this period is that Obi-Wan and Vader had another encounter, possibly even another lightsaber duel before their fateful confrontation aboard the Death Star, which significantly re-contextualizes their dialogue in A New Hope. Until now, we have been led to believe that neither Obi-Wan nor Vader knew that the other was still alive when they met again in A New Hope, probably doubly so for Obi-Wan not knowing about Vader, who he believed to have perished on Mustafar.
With rumors of a "rematch of the century" between Obi-Wan and Vader, as it has been described, it gives their exchange onboard the Death Star new meaning. It's not as clear if the previous encounter they mentioned in A New Hope was their encounter on Mustafar or another one yet to come in Kenobi. Also unclear is what, if any, reaction Palpatine might have if he finds out from Vader that Obi-Wan is still alive after all these years (if Palpatine appears in the series, of course).
The last significant potential change to Star Wars lore is that, up to now, we had no reason to believe that Obi-Wan had any contact with Leia, aside from delivering her in Revenge of the Sith to the Organa's. Obi-Wan obviously knew where she was going and who would care for her, but nothing in the original trilogy suggests that he had anything to do with Leia between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Kenobi's sole job had been to watch over Luke on Tatooine. He did not even get to see her after she had been rescued, as he separated from the leading group to shut down the tractor beam and then later sacrificed himself to allow the rebels to escape the Death Star.
Leia seemed to know who Obi-Wan was and where to find him, but, of course, that information likely came straight from her father, Bail Organa, who was a close ally of Obi-Wan during the Clone Wars. Unfortunately, she never made it to Tatooine to find him and seek his assistance after being captured by Darth Vader. With the report that Obi-Wan may be headed off-world at some point in the series to rescue her, it seriously shakes up what we thought we knew about their interactions with each other at any point in time post-Revenge of the Sith.
I have to admit mixed feelings about some of these changes in what we know and/or have believed about this period in Star Wars history. I definitely plan to watch Kenobi, and if previously live-action Star Wars shows are any indication, I feel pretty confident that I will enjoy this series as well. Still, I am unsure how I feel about some of these challenges to previous Star Wars lore, although I think how things are written and set up in the series will ultimately determine how other fans and I might view them. Kenobi is set to premiere on D+ on May 25, 2022. So naturally, we will be watching this show with great interest.
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