Ewan McGregor Begs Disney: “Come On, Let Me Play Obi-Wan Again!”
Ewan McGregor Wants to Play Obi-Wan Kenobi Again — And He’s Waiting on Disney
TL;DR: The actor who played Obi-Wan in the prequels and the 2022 Disney+ series is really hoping Disney calls him back. He has ideas for stories set between his show and the original 1977 movie — and he says he’s got about 10 years before he matches Alec Guinness’s age.
Who Is Ewan McGregor in Star Wars?
Think of Ewan McGregor as the younger version of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Before him, Sir Alec Guinness played the wise old hermit in the original 1977 Star Wars (now called A New Hope). McGregor stepped into the role for the prequel trilogy — the movies that show how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader.
He played Obi-Wan in three theatrical films:
- 1999 — The Phantom Menace (Obi-Wan is a young Jedi Padawan)
- 2002 — Attack of the Clones (now a Jedi Knight)
- 2005 — Revenge of the Sith (a Jedi Master, heartbroken after Anakin turns evil)
What Did McGregor Say Recently?
While promoting his new movie The End of Oak Street, McGregor spoke to E! News and made his position crystal clear:
"I’m ready whenever they are. They just seem to not be ready, but I’m up for it."
He also painted a picture of where his version of Obi-Wan stands at the end of the 2022 series:
- He walks off into the desert
- He decides not to watch over Luke Skywalker anymore — realizing the boy needs a normal childhood with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru
- Qui-Gon Jinn’s Force ghost appears (Liam Neeson cameo!)
- They wander off together… but where are they going?
That question — what happens next? — is exactly what McGregor wants to answer.
The Timeline Gap He Wants to Explore
Here’s the fascinating part: there’s a huge blank space in Obi-Wan’s life.
| Event | Time Period | Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Obi-Wan Kenobi series ends | ~9 years before A New Hope | Ewan McGregor |
| A New Hope begins | 0 BBY (Battle of Yavin) | Alec Guinness |
McGregor points out: "The next time we find Obi-Wan Kenobi, he’s Alec Guinness up in the mountains."
He wants to fill that ~10-year gap with stories — movies, series, whatever Disney wants. And he notes he’s got about 10 years of real time before he reaches the age Guinness was in 1977. The clock is ticking!
Important Point:
McGregor isn’t just wishing — he’s offering a concrete creative direction. The "missing years" between the Disney+ series and A New Hope are ripe for storytelling: Obi-Wan learning to communicate with Qui-Gon, deepening his connection to the Force, and truly becoming the "Ben Kenobi" we meet in the original film.
McGregor’s History as Obi-Wan: A Quick Recap
- 1999 — Debuts in The Phantom Menace. Critics were mixed on the movie, but loved McGregor.
- 2002 & 2005 — Returns for Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Becomes a fan favorite.
- 17-year break — No Obi-Wan. Fans wonder if he’ll ever return.
- 2022 — Obi-Wan Kenobi series drops on Disney+. Massive hit:
- Billed as a "limited series" (meaning: one-and-done)
- Second most-watched show on Disney+ that year
- 6.5 billion minutes viewed in the U.S. alone (per Luminate data)
- Since then — McGregor has never stopped saying he’d come back. In a 2022 British GQ interview, he said:
"If I could do one of these every now and again — I’d just be happy about it."
What Happens Next?
Right now, the ball is in Disney’s court. McGregor has:
- The desire
- The fan support
- A clear story window (those missing 10 years)
- The physical timeline (he’s still young enough)
All that’s missing is a green light from Disney/Lucasfilm.
Will we get a Season 2? A movie? A trilogy of films? Nobody knows — but McGregor is standing by the phone, lightsaber in hand.
Summary
- Ewan McGregor wants to return as Obi-Wan Kenobi — badly.
- He told E! News he’s ready whenever Disney is.
- The story he wants to tell: the ~10 years between the 2022 series and A New Hope.
- At the end of the series, Obi-Wan walks into the desert with Qui-Gon’s Force ghost — and we don’t know where they go.
- McGregor has played Obi-Wan in three prequel films + one hit Disney+ series (6.5B minutes watched).
- He’s been vocal about returning since before the 2022 series even aired.
- Disney hasn’t announced anything yet — but the door is wide open.
FAQ
Has Disney officially announced another Obi-Wan project?
No. As of now, there’s no official confirmation of a Season 2, movie, or any new Obi-Wan content. McGregor is publicly campaigning for it.
Why does McGregor mention "10 years before I am Alec Guinness’s age"?
In A New Hope (1977), Alec Guinness was 63 years old. McGregor is currently in his early 50s. He’s saying he has roughly a decade of real-world time to film stories that lead up to Guinness’s portrayal.
Was the 2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi series popular?
Yes — very. It was Disney+’s second most-watched show of 2022, with 6.5 billion minutes viewed in the U.S. alone (according to Luminate). That’s a strong signal fans want more.
What’s the "gap" McGregor wants to explore?
The series ends about 9–10 years before A New Hope. We see Obi-Wan find peace and reconnect with Qui-Gon. But we don’t see how he becomes the hermit "Ben Kenobi" living in a hut on Tatooine. That transformation is the story McGregor wants to tell.
Could this be a movie instead of a series?
Absolutely. McGregor said he’s open to "stories, you know, series or movies." He just wants to keep playing the character in whatever format Disney prefers.
Final thought: If you’re a Star Wars fan, this is the rare case where the actor, the fans, and the timeline all align. Now we just wait for Disney to say "Yes."