This 'Star Wars' Main Character's Homeworld Is A Tribute To Jon Stewart
In the Star Wars universe, there are so many worlds to visit, and so many characters that come from these amazing and original worlds. For example, Maul is from the dark and haunting world of Dathomir, Anakin is from the dunes of Tatooine, and Padme is from the elegant and beautiful planet of Naboo which, funny enough, is also the home of Emperor Palpatine.
In the original trilogy, there was one character whose origins were almost as mysterious as Yoda’s. Obi-Wan Kenobi has always been a beautiful mystery within the Star Wars universe, especially where he comes from. In 2010, George Lucas was interviewed by comedian and TV host Jon Stewart at Star Wars Celebration V. During the interview, George was asked where Obi-Wan is originally from:
"This is one of the first things I wrote in the very first script. He comes from the planet Stewjon."
Doesn’t Stewjon sound a little familiar? Well, if it reminds you of the amazing comedian and TV host Jon Stewart, then you are right on the money! Lucas clearly named Kenobi’s planet right then and there in honor of this great comedian, which shows you that inspiration can come from anything, or anyone.
There are many plots and story ideas that have been made Star Wars Legends, and have completely been erased, or changed, in the "new canon." Yet one of those ideas that actually made it into the new canon is Obi-Wan’s homeworld. Stewjon is canon, meaning that this could bring new and different tales and adventures set on this mysterious world. Stewjon was even mentioned in such books as The Star Wars Book and Star Wars: Absolutely Everything you Need to Know, and was defined as Kenobi’s homeworld.
The perfect moment to introduce more about Obi-Wan’s homeworld would be with the upcoming Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The mysterious series will take about ten years after Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. (If we are to take that literally, then it would be about nine years before Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope). The limited series will feature a very broken Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not much is known about the rest of the story, or the places we will visit in the series.
This new upcoming series is a perfect opportunity to show some of Kenobi’s origins, or just have him visit his home planet for a whole new adventure, as he traces his past. Maybe we could see a tragic path from his childhood, or just him remembering his past before he joined the Jedi order, which is completely unknown.
The Kenobi series is promised to have many amazing and important elements pertaining to Obi-Wan’s story, especially after his fight with Vader on Mustafar. This fight leaves Obi-Wan completely scarred, and probably suffering from PTSD. The series also promises to feature one more clash between Kenobi and his now fallen apprentice Lord Vader.
Stewjon is one of the best little pieces of Star Wars trivia. Even just the original trilogy is filled with amazing little fun facts, like Vader’s helmet being inspired by Japanese Samurai helmets, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber made from a WWII grenade, and of course how the amazing special effects are made. The inspiration for Obi-Wan’s planet is another fun tidbit adding to the ever expanding universe of Star Wars. At the end of the day, Star Wars is one of those stories that, no matter how many years have passed, always has something new for fans of the franchise to discover.
Source(s): CBR