Is Obi-Wan Kenobi Getting A Star Wars Spinoff Movie?

SpinoffAfter D-Day of October 2012 die-hard Star Wars fans around the world celebrated and rejoiced like it was 1999 as we learned that we would be getting our long-awaited Sequel Trilogy. Just a few months later Disney also announced that they would be producing a [then] pair of stand-alone movies based on ancillary characters from the main saga. Since that time it has been long-rumored that the leading contenders for said spinoffs would be Han Solo and Boba Fett. BUT now all signs are pointing to a fourth spinoff featuring none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi. We’ll take a closer look at this latest rumor after the jump.

 

In February of 2013 Bob Iger did an interview with CNBC in which he dropped this little gem:

“When we were exploring very seriously with George the acquisition of Lucasfilm, the idea of producing a few so-called standalone films that were not part of the overall saga came up. And we discussed not in great detail, a few of the possibilities. What I confirm today is that those possibilities are becoming more real and they are now creative entities that are working on developing scripts for what would be those standalone films.”

 

Ever since the spinoff announcement the fans have been spinning their wheels as to who the characters could be. Early rumors and speculation revolved around Han Solo, Boba Fett, Yoda, and Jabba the Hutt. While some of these suggestions are more palatable than others – for instance a Boba Fett film is a no-brainer while it seems less is more with Yoda in order to preserve his mystique – there has been no lack of suggestions and opinions on the matter. However, while we know there will be spinoffs, one caveat is that these films will be about supporting characters.

 

Tatooine

 

Then the story got a little more interesting as an unlikely source, the German website Star Wars Union, broke the scoop of Disney’s schedule for the new era of Star Wars films:

2014: Rebels
2015: Episode VII
2016: Boba Fett
2017: Episode VIII
2018: Solo
2019: Episode IX
2020: Red Five

 

IF the schedule is legitimate, and all indications are that it is, then we know the first three spinoff movies are Boba Fett, Han Solo and Red Five (although “Red Five” in this case would presumably not be Luke Skywalker).

 

Ewan Saber

 

Since this time, there seems to have been a new development at Disney. According to Making Star Wars, they received an anonymous tip suggesting that Disney/LFL is currently developing a fourth stand-alone movie centered around a major saga character – Obi-Wan Kenobi! This news, rumor to be exact, shouldn’t come as a surprise. Here are three solid reasons to believe this rumor.

 

First, Obi-Wan Kenobi alum Ewan McGregor has stated on at least a couple occasions that he would absolutely love to reprise his role as he expressed to Access Hollywood back in December of 2012, just months after the D-Day announcement:

“Yeah, sure… absolutely. If they need me, I’ll be there.”

 

While that doesn’t read as exuberant as as it was intended, McGregor furthered his interests by subsequently telling MTV News:

“I think it’s a good idea. The only bit that I could get away with doing is after the last one I made, ‘Episode III,’ before Alec Guinness [played Obi-Wan in the original films], there’s that period where he’s in the desert.

 

That might be my window, there, to tell that story. I don’t know what he did in the desert. We could make up some stuff. Could be quite exciting. I’d be up for it, for sure, of course.”

 

It seems that while Ewan McGregor is willing and able to do it, this opportunity should be seized if for no other reason than he’s the perfect age for the time period in the years following Episode III.

 

Kenobi Madness

 

Second, the fans want more Kenobi! This was proved by the Official Site’s own March Madness-style smackdown called “This Is Madness” in which Obi-Wan Kenobi won. This suggests that the fans haven’t grown tired of the character despite the mixed reception of the Prequel Trilogy or the six seasons of The Clone Wars animated series, which only seems to have bolstered their love for him. None of this fanboy love should be a surprise either. Despite the mixed reception of the prequels, McGregor’s portrayal as Kenobi was universally applauded if not downright loved.

 

Kenobi TCW

 

Lastly, Disney is embracing the Marvel method of building a vast and intertwined universe. We will soon see this incarnate as the new animated series Rebels is poised to premiere in early October and has already hinted that we could catch glimpses of the Master Obi-Wan Kenobi periodically throughout the series. Kenobi would serve the same purpose as the Big 3 do in Episode VII, providing that “connective tissue” that I like to write about so frequently thus legitimizing the new characters.

 

Rebels Obi-Wan

 

While we are still unsure which characters are the subject of the planned spinoff movies there can be no doubt that an Obi-Wan Kenobi movie would be widely cheered and all indications are that Disney wants to satisfy the fans. Disney/LFL now owns a vast reservoir of material from which to draw exciting feature films, especially one involving Obi-Wan, so it would be a sad and surprising turn for Disney NOT to grab this golden opportunity while it exists and I should think Disney execs are far too intelligent not to recognize it.

 

Tell us what you think about a possible fourth spinoff, featuring Kenobi in the comments or in The Cantina.

 

+ posts

64 thoughts on “Is Obi-Wan Kenobi Getting A Star Wars Spinoff Movie?

  • September 15, 2014 at 1:09 am
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    Please let this true, as a younger fan i

    • September 16, 2014 at 1:36 am
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      For a stand alone this IS THE MOVIE.

      Han Solo? We are getting the real one in VII so best to wait a while for a recast.

      Boba Fett? Sure but later.

      Obi-Wan is the one who should get a movie over any of these guys.

      Of course the story is obvious. Obi-Wan vs Darth Maul. Cameos by Yoda and Qui-Gon. All sorts of great Clone Wars bounty hunters could appear as well.

      “This ain’t happening. Here’s why:

      1) Disney is apparently against the Prequels, hence their complete avoidance of these movies. ”

      Yes that’s why they put out Season 6 earlier this year and the Darth Maul comics series and the Ventress book next year.

      Oh BTW Boba Fett in the movie is going to be Boba Fett. You know the clone of Jango Fett.

      There are going to be various prequel connections in VII. It can’t be helped as that is an irrevocable part of the overall story. It’s also going to be set 50+ years after III so it’s not likely that actual characters will appear outside of obviously Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda as Force Ghosts at some point in the sequels.

    • September 16, 2014 at 8:39 pm
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      How does Darth Vader poop?

      • September 17, 2014 at 8:44 am
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        Your mind is greatly disturbed to think such thoughts

  • September 15, 2014 at 1:10 am
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    If Daisy’s character is “the new Luke”, then, like Luke, she’s probably being lied to. “Tell me about my grandfather” / (beat) Your grandfather…………was a spice miner on a cloneship.”

    I’m surprised little to no one has mentioned this possibility. As a matter of fact, I’m betting on it. After all, it can’t be good for the Skywalker offspring’s psyche to know that their grandfather was the Star Wars equivalent of Hitler’s lynch man.

    • September 15, 2014 at 1:12 am
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      Spine miner? That sounds horrific. Didn’t think the Star Wars universe dealt with organ trafficking.

    • September 15, 2014 at 11:54 am
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      I don’t know if Luke would try to do the “certain point of view” and “very selective presentation” thing …

      DAISY: Uncle, what did granddad do during the Rebellion?

      LUKE: Oh, rest assured that he killed quite a few high-ranking Imperial officers!

      • September 15, 2014 at 5:06 pm
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        It makes sense. Daisy’s character decides to become a Jedi following the death of her parents. As tragic as it was in the original film when aunt and uncle died, it would be even more tragic following the death of Han & Leia, since the audience is so invested in them.

  • September 15, 2014 at 1:13 am
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    Always loved Obi Wan, and he’s always seemed as the most obvious choice to have a spin off, also think he should have been seen as more of the main hero in the PT than Anikin but I digress….

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:04 am
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    I’d love an Obi Wan film and I’d love Vader to be in it. Obviously, they couldn’t meet (as they don’t meet again until ANH) but you could get some wonderfully tense cat and mouse scenes if Vader returns to Tattooine to free the slaves.

    If we didn’t get this, maybe Old Ben meets a young Luke and protects him from some danger or other – hutts? Tuskens? It’d be nice to see them actually meet.

    As Liam Neilson has expressed an interest in returning we could get some lovely force ghost scenes.

    McGregor was one of the highlights of the Prequel Trilogy, it’d be great to see him back!

    • September 16, 2014 at 8:36 pm
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      holy god, I LOVE these ideas

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:37 am
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    This ain’t happening. Here’s why:

    1) Disney is apparently against the Prequels, hence their complete avoidance of these movies.

    2) We know practically everything about Obi Wan Kenobi from the time he was a young padawan to his death.

    3) A movie about Obi Wan before he became a padawan would be highly uninteresting.

    • September 15, 2014 at 2:58 am
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      I disagree this is why.
      1) You are wrong on Disney avoiding the prequels. They are avoiding them for the sake of Ep7 and that is it. Prequels are a commodity to be mined again in the future.
      Disney is notorious for that.
      2)Obi wan said he is more machine than man, and knew of him being referred to as Vader.
      After Mustafar incident did he get a picture post card?
      3)My 4 year old grandson refers to the original clone wars cartoon as Kenobi Wan He mentions no one else but Yoda when it isn’t even playing. He actually calls that DvD we have Kenobi Wan.

    • September 15, 2014 at 5:22 pm
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      That is not true. Disney is not against prequels. Quite to the contrary.

      They know that prequels also have alot of fans.Especially among the new generation. And they are very popular and financially very successful.

      Disney bought all 6 films from Lucas, not only the original ones.

      Emphasis is placed on the original trilogy just because the sequel trilogy continues directly to them. Original trilogy is much closer in timeline to the new films than prequels. The events in the prequels are 60 years old in the new films.

      I love prequels and I hope that we will have Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn back in new movies.
      I also hope that we will have some prequels easter eggs

      • September 16, 2014 at 3:11 pm
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        We recently saw a video advertising Rebels that went through glimpses of all six movies, prequels included (we even saw adorable lil’ Jake Lloyd there for a split-second). So certainly the prequels are still canon and relevant, and I also expect Episode 7 to refer to some of the worlds first shown in the prequels, such as Coruscant.

        The notion that Disney has somehow de-canonized the prequels is just the wet dream of the lunatic fringe of prequel haters.

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:56 am
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    Why A Kenobi Film Is A Great Idea:

    1) Learning from Kenobi’s character in the Prequels and in the Clone Wars, it is apparent that Obi-Wan doesn’t seem like a guy who would lay back for fifteen years and watch Luke.

    2) Ewan McGregor is the highlight of the Prequels. Why not give him the glory he rightfully deserves?

    3) ‘Star Wars: Kenobi’ could be adapted to film.

    • September 15, 2014 at 3:27 am
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      Actually it was 19 years. Although I like Kenobi, I really don’t see him doing a lot on Tatooine due to the fact that he was supposed to be laying low. He probably did have a few confrontations with some people but none so serious that would have drawn the Empire’s interest.

      • September 15, 2014 at 3:56 am
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        Read ‘Star Wars: Kenobi’. You’ll get a much more broader picture on how the story of a Kenobi film transcend.

        • September 15, 2014 at 4:37 am
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          Unknown placement. Spinoff list
          Title Writer(s)
          F Untitled Gareth Edwards spinoff film Gary Whitta
          F Untitled Lawrence Kasdan spinoff film Lawrence Kasdan
          F Untitled Simon Kinberg spinoff film Simon Kinberg
          F Untitled Josh Trank spinoff film
          VG

    • September 15, 2014 at 3:42 am
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      ^ actually, Obi wan Kenobi was the type of guy who sat around watching Luke because….. That’s what happened. The empire was after him, remember? I would hide too.

      Also, the Kenobi book would be good for a television special, but it didn’t have much in the way of interesting plot or character development.

  • September 15, 2014 at 3:01 am
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    This is the one Star Wars project I want to see more than anything else. To me, McGregor IS Obi-Wan, and I would love to see another performance from him in the role.

  • September 15, 2014 at 3:04 am
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    I loved McGregor in the prequels, even with the cardboard dialog he was the one selling it the most…Him and Qui-Gon were the most interesting character of the PT…to think of it a prequel of the prequel could be cool lol but centering on Qui-Gon…why was he such a rebellious jedi etc…a younger Dooku could be featured as well..

  • September 15, 2014 at 3:19 am
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    This would be a bad idea. The character has way too much baggage from the pt and clone wars. Unless u undo the pt. nothing good can come from revisiting that era.

  • September 15, 2014 at 3:23 am
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    I wonder if that’s the real reason they had the This Is Madness contest for two years now, to confirm which characters are most favored by the fans, so that they can determine whose spinoff would be the most well received and successful. Didn’t Yoda win last year? Wasn’t Boba Fett the dark side finalist this year?

    Anyway, it’s an interesting coincidence, even if that’s all it is. A coincidence.

  • September 15, 2014 at 4:16 am
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    I know that things have been written(novels) and stuff said onscreen, but if I had to choose a spinoff that would be the most interesting, hands down it would have to be Darth Vader after the events of Episode Three. I felt cheated that he only had less than a minute of screen time. Why was there any footage of Vader behind the mask hunting down Jedi and going after his children. I want to see Vader pre A New Hope. I also would love to see a spinoff pre prequel trilogy( whether Plagueis, Shmi, Qui Gon, Maul, Dooku, Sidious. ) These stories would create interest. I would like to know more about the whole Anakin/ Shmi conception and would love to see Plagueis on the big screen. Unless Lucas left Vader and Plagueis out for Episode 7 with their apparent lack of screen time in Episode 3. Or maybe the events that took place between episode 1 and 2. Shim getting kidnapped, the mystery of who ordered the Clone army, the 10 years of Anakin fighting along side Obi wan. Jedi Master Syfo Dias, Dooku leaving the order (Non Cartoon) The possibilities would be endless.

    • September 15, 2014 at 10:08 am
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      I’d also love to see this. A movie including Dooku as a Jedi, explaining and showing more of Shmi and possibly revealing something extraordinary about her, maybe seeing Plagueis alive and Sidious betraying him. A lot could be done here in my opinion.

    • September 15, 2014 at 11:03 am
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      Wasn’t it Sidious that order the clone army under another name? That’s what I have always thought.

  • September 15, 2014 at 4:36 am
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    I just noticed that the Rebels version of Obi-Wan has his hair parted on the wrong side. Unless it’s a flipped image which sometimes happens, but not normally in animation. I’m surprised the continuity people missed that when making character models.

    I would love to see Ewan back as OWK in his own film.

    • September 15, 2014 at 5:51 am
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      Obi wan spinoff is great idea, I love what a previous comment said about obi wan learning from qui gin on tatooine. Ewan played a great Kenobi. And if he is will in to play the role again there is no reason not to, you would attract the pt fans obviously but also the original trilogy fans as it shows him in hiding on tatooine. Also it coul show what ep iii missed, he secrets qui gon had to offer.

    • September 15, 2014 at 6:15 am
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      At the very least, I am curious to see Ewan under a much different writer and director. Would that standalone also be OT-inspired with the visuals, dialogue, etc.?

      If so, I would expect the performance here to put PT Obi-Wan to shame!

    • September 15, 2014 at 7:47 am
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      And the character’s resemblance is a nod to Ewan McGregor.

  • September 15, 2014 at 6:40 am
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    Unless they are going back on what they said about the spin-offs NOT involving saga characters, this isn’t going to happen.

    I have nothing against the idea it self though. A movie about an incident where the force reveals that Anakin is Vader to him and that Vader is about to discover Luke which leads him to make great risks of being discovered while doing some complex deft maneuvering to prevent it; an espionage story while Luke is happily unaware bullseying womprats in Beggar’s Canyon with Biggs and Fixer would be cool actually.

    • September 15, 2014 at 9:32 am
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      Maybe I’m not remembering correctly, but I think that Episode III shows that Obi-Wan already knows that Vader is Anakin. Din’t the hologram that Obi-Wan and Yoda watch after the Jedi temple slaughter show the Emperor calling Anakin by the name Vader?
      Excuse my bad grammar…

      • September 15, 2014 at 1:38 pm
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        You may very well be right about that. I haven’t watched the PT as much as the OT.

      • September 16, 2014 at 8:44 pm
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        Correct – he sees the Emperor refer to Anakin as Lord Vader or Darth Vader or something, and Yoda says words to that effect directly TO Obi-Wan. “The boy you trained, gone he is, consumed by Darth Vader.”

        I’m an OT fanboy but I like the PT too, and my son LOVES Episode III so we’ve watched it over and over.

  • September 15, 2014 at 6:58 am
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    I can’t be the only one thinking that an Obiwan/Darth Maul movie would be awesome am I? Darrh Maul somehow figures out that Vader has a son and decides to hunt him down – Obiwan finding out about it and under the guide of “protecting Luke” goes on some galaxy wide chase but at the same time is dealing with the revenge aspect of killing the guy that killed Qui Gon. Throw in some virus can’t underworld (Boba Fett), some Alderaan, and a couple of new planets and you have an AWESOME movie!

    • September 15, 2014 at 7:00 am
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      Coruscant underworld not virus underworld.

  • September 15, 2014 at 7:48 am
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    I want to see this film! Get Ewan back!!

  • September 15, 2014 at 8:26 am
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    Disney paid 4 billion dollars. We are going to get Obi movies, Vader movies, Jabba movies, probably a freaking discovery channel documentary of the animals on Hoth… we are going to get them all because Disney is GOING to recoup that money until they milk it for all it’s worth… I’m personally excited about it too.

    • September 15, 2014 at 3:47 pm
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      I like your idea of a Disney nature series devoted to the creatures of the Star Wars universe. Next stop a park where they genetically create these creatures to roam authentic recreated habitats. Do or do not, there is not try.

  • September 15, 2014 at 11:28 am
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    …completely agree with most of the comments here – the one stand-alone film I`d want to see above all others would be Obi-Wan…Ewan is such an incredible actor,would be great seeing Qui-Gon as a Force ghost too – please Disney make this happen!

  • September 15, 2014 at 12:45 pm
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    This Echo-07 character really loves jumping to conclusions from very scant information, doesn’t he?
    It’s like he’s coming up with the answer first then searching around for tit-bits to provide the question.
    It’s all just fanboy speculation based on the thinnest of information.
    Nothing wrong with speculation, we all do it and it can be entertaining. It just doesn’t really belong as an article on a websites that is called star wars 7 NEWS. It’s more of a forum speculation/discussion subject than a news article.

    • September 15, 2014 at 1:48 pm
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      He’s not doing anything different then what the NY Times does every day.

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:08 pm
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    Why do we have to know the backstory to everything? Create something new where you don’t have any limits.

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:18 pm
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    I have a feeling that one spin-off movie will be enough for me. I’ll get bored very quickly of the franchise after Episode 7, I just know.

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:39 pm
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    I doesn’t look like they’ve aged Kenobi in Rebels. If this show takes place 5 years before E4, shouldn’t he
    look older? Otherwise, holy shit, he sure did age pretty badly in those five years before we see him in E4.

  • September 15, 2014 at 2:57 pm
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    Jeez, PT crap is still here. I hope Disney will decanonizace it and burn it.

    • September 15, 2014 at 5:31 pm
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      Hater troll, go to your cave and die.

      Prequels and Original movies are both great.

  • September 15, 2014 at 3:50 pm
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    OBI_WANNNN! Make it happen Disney, you have my vote. I would prefer it over a Boba Fett film.
    I know fans love Fett, but come on people, the casual movie goer will prefer Obi over Boba.

  • September 15, 2014 at 4:13 pm
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    This is the one stand-alone film idea that I’ve heard so far that actually sounds worthwhile, IMHO.

    Yes, it’s a cinch that they’ll make a movie about everyone’s favorite action figure, Boba Fett. It’ll probably be fun, but rather inconsequential to the overall saga.

    A “muppet baby” version of Han Solo showing how he came to be the slickest smuggler in the galaxy? Who needs to see Han as a precocious teen? But again, money talks and Disney knows that Han is a hot bit of intellectual property.

    But Obi Wan? Now, that’s an idea I’ve had for a long time… a long time. And it’s based on something very simple – old Ben had clearly been to Mos Eisley prior to ANH, and furthermore had obviously hired a freighter pilot at that same cantina before. “Most of the best freighter pilots can be found here. Only watch your step… this place can be a little rough.”

    At some point over the 20 years old Ben had lived on Tatooine, he had had occasion to hire a freighter pilot to take him off planet somewhere. I’ve always thought there was a cool story to be told there.

    Only thing is… continuity-wise, the film would have to be called “Ben Kenobi”, as he hadn’t gone by the name of Obi Wan since he’d gone into hiding on Tatooine.

    Still, what did he hire that freighter pilot for? (And for that matter, where did he get all of the old mementos with which he decorated the walls of his home on Tatooine? He sure didn’t bring them with him when he first arrived at the end of ROTS.)

    There’s definitely a movie there, and one that would actually fill in some genuine blanks in the existing story. I hope they do it, and that they do it right.

    • September 15, 2014 at 5:28 pm
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      the idea of tying it back to the original cantina scene sounds promising. Ewan’s acting outshone the others in pt, and his real life interest in the work definitely tops alec guinness’ “appreciation” for lucas’ “scriptwriting”. so seeing Ewan-Kenobi play it a little more to the “strange old hermit” motif could be cinema Gold.
      The only other idea for a kenobi spin-off would be a Qui-Gon meets obi-wan VS count dooku, with a little extra mace windu and kit fisto thrown in for good measure. However that would need recasting cuz ewan’s too old to play a 15 year old.
      For ewan, post-epIII makes more sense

  • September 15, 2014 at 4:49 pm
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    I love Ewan. I didn’t care for how Obi-Wan was treated/written in the prequels but I wouldn’t mind Ewan reprising the role at all. He’s certainly not the problem.

    Ewan/Obi in new hands could be quite amazing!

  • September 15, 2014 at 4:51 pm
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    Prequel Reboot please. (And the Discovery Channel documentary about the animals of Hoth, from the comment above. Hilarious!)

  • September 15, 2014 at 5:37 pm
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    Love Obi-Wan. Please bring him back in SW VII.

  • September 15, 2014 at 5:38 pm
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    Prequel bashing by the same person again. Dude get a life.

  • September 15, 2014 at 5:41 pm
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    If this happens I will surely die of happiness!

  • September 16, 2014 at 9:20 am
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    Surely most of it would be episodes 1,2,3,4,5, and 6…

  • September 16, 2014 at 8:01 pm
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    would be great to see ewan back as ben kenobi,was the best thing of the last 3 movies,in my forties ,so a big original fan,but have to say the presequals were good movies also,number 3 was a great film,i watched the originals as a kid loved them so much still do,and many others feel the same about the last 3 movies,my friends kids they all loved them,so i feel people are a bit to hard on them movies,for me seeing ewan and liam neeson back would be great,but to other fans awesome.

  • September 16, 2014 at 8:41 pm
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    How does Darth Vader poop?

  • September 16, 2014 at 10:27 pm
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    Maybe we will see some damn fool idealistic crusade in this film

  • September 17, 2014 at 12:39 am
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    An excellent idea- McGregor is great as Kenobi, would be a no-brainer of a hit!

  • September 18, 2014 at 3:50 am
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    On my end I would prefer new a new spin off movie. Maybe another Jedi character or something like that. If they hit on a new character or an idea then that could be multiple new movies instead of one here and one there.

  • September 18, 2014 at 5:58 pm
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    Obi Wan…in the desert….in Mos Eisley…hiring 6 spacers..to defend a Tatooine settlement….Magnificent Seven styleee…..

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