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Ewan McGregor Teases 10 Lost Years of Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ewan McGregor Reveals the "Missing 10 Years" of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Story
What Did Ewan McGregor Just Tell Us?
Imagine you’re reading a really exciting book, but ten whole chapters are ripped out. You know how the story starts, and you know how it ends, but the middle is a total mystery.
That’s exactly what Ewan McGregor — the actor who plays Obi-Wan Kenobi — just pointed out about his Star Wars character.
While chatting with his The End of Oak Street co-star Anne Hathaway for an Esquire interview, McGregor was asked what part of Obi-Wan’s timeline feels "unfinished." His answer? The entire decade between the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi and the original 1977 movie A New Hope.
Important Point
There is a 10-year gap in Obi-Wan’s life that no TV show or movie has fully explored yet.
- The Obi-Wan Kenobi series ends with him settling on Tatooine.
- A New Hope begins with him as "Old Ben," a hermit in the desert.
- We have no idea what happened in between!
The Missing Decade: Breaking It Down Simply
Let’s put this on a timeline so it’s super clear:
| Year (In-Universe) | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 19 BBY | Revenge of the Sith ends. Anakin becomes Vader. Obi-Wan takes baby Luke to Tatooine. |
| 9 BBY | Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+ series) happens. Obi-Wan fights Vader again, saves Leia, returns to watch Luke. |
| ??? – 0 BBY | THE MYSTERY GAP (10 YEARS) |
| 0 BBY | A New Hope begins. Luke finds Obi-Wan’s hut. The adventure starts! |
At the end of the TV show, McGregor explains:
"I leave Luke on Tatooine, Princess Leia is safe, and I go off into the desert on my camel — a eopie, I think they’re called."
Ten years later, he’s Alec Guinness’s "Old Ben" — weathered, solitary, and waiting.
What happened during those 3,650 days? Did he fight sand people? Talk to Qui-Gon’s ghost? Fix his moisture vaporator? We don’t know!
How Comics Have Tried to Fill the Blanks
Since movies and TV haven’t touched this era much, Marvel Comics stepped in. Think of comics like "deleted scenes" that are officially part of the story.
1. Star Wars (2015) — Obi-Wan’s Journal
- What is it? A main Star Wars comic series.
- The cool part: It includes journal entries written by Old Ben himself.
- What we learn: Little slices of his daily life — watching Luke from afar, dealing with Tusken Raiders, missing his old friends.
2. Obi-Wan (2022) — A 5-Issue Miniseries
- What is it? A short, focused comic series.
- The setup: Obi-Wan sits in his hut, telling stories from his past (like Clone Wars adventures) to… well, mostly to himself and the desert wind.
- Why it matters: It shows his mental state — lonely, reflective, holding onto hope.
Important Point
Comics are "canon" (official story), but they’re not the same as seeing Ewan McGregor act it out on screen.
Fans still want a live-action show or movie for this era!
Other Exciting Star Wars News You Should Know
While we wait (and hope) for more Obi-Wan, here’s what else is coming to a galaxy near you:
Ahsoka Season 2
- Status: Confirmed!
- Release: Presumably 2027 (delayed from earlier plans).
- Why care? Ahsoka was Anakin’s apprentice. Her story connects directly to Obi-Wan’s era.
Star Wars: Starfighter
- Director: Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine, Stranger Things).
- Star: Ryan Gosling (yes, Ken from Barbie is going to space!).
- Release Date: May 28, 2027.
- Bonus Fun Fact: Gosling and Levy are also teaming up for a Marvel Ghost Rider movie in 2028.
Why This 10-Year Gap Matters (Even If You’re New to Star Wars)
You might think: "It’s just 10 years of sitting in the sand. Who cares?"
Here’s why it’s actually a goldmine for storytelling:
- Character Growth: How does a warrior become a hermit? How does grief turn into wisdom?
- The Empire’s Rise: This is when the Empire tightens its grip. Obi-Wan is right there on the frontier.
- Luke’s Childhood: We see Luke grow from a toddler to the 19-year-old farm boy. Obi-Wan watched every step.
- Force Ghost Training: This is when Obi-Wan likely learned to talk to Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) — a huge deal for Jedi lore.
- Ewan McGregor Wants To Do It! The actor has said repeatedly he’d return "in a heartbeat."
Summary: The Big Picture
- Ewan McGregor identified the biggest hole in Obi-Wan’s story: The 10 years between his Disney+ show and A New Hope.
- No movie or TV show has covered this era in live-action yet.
- Marvel Comics have explored it (journals, flashbacks), but fans want screen time.
- The timeline is packed with potential: Empire oppression, Luke’s upbringing, Force ghost lessons, desert survival.
- Other big Star Wars projects are coming (Ahsoka S2, Starfighter movie), but no "Obi-Wan: The Lost Decade" announcement… yet.
Keep your eyes on the twin suns. The story isn’t over until the blue ghost fades away.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions, Answered Simply
Is the Obi-Wan Kenobi series getting a Season 2?
Not officially. Lucasfilm called it a "limited series" (meaning one-and-done). But McGregor, the writers, and fans are all lobbying for more. Never tell a Jedi the odds!
Are the comics required reading to understand the movies/shows?
Nope. They’re like bonus features. You get the full story from the screen. Comics just add flavor, side adventures, and inner thoughts.
What’s a "eopie"?
Space camel. Long legs, flat feet for sand, grumpy attitude. Obi-Wan rides one at the end of the show. Beep boop.
Why is Ahsoka Season 2 coming in 2027? That’s forever away!
TV takes time. Writing, filming, massive VFX (visual effects), scheduling busy actors… Star Wars shows are basically 8-hour movies. Quality > Speed.
Ryan Gosling in Star Wars?! Is he a Jedi? A pilot? A villain?
We know almost nothing. The movie (Starfighter) is original — not based on existing characters. Gosling + Director Shawn Levy = hype level: MAX. We’ll find out closer to 2027!
May the Force be with you while you wait for the next chapter!
