Ewan McGregor Discusses his Work on The Force Awakens

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At this point, the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s return to the Star Wars franchise has been heard time and time again. From Ewan McGregor coming in for one day of work on his motorcycle before disappearing just as quickly, to the creative editing that went into the return of the late Sir Alec Guinness to the disembodied voice of the deceased Jedi.  But, McGregor gave some new comments to the New York Daily News recently that shed a bit of light on his process in returning as well as his thoughts on the film once he finally got to see it.

 

Although JJ Abrams in interviews has romanticized the idea of Ewan McGregor swooping in, dropping a line, and then swooping out, it seems that as one might expect McGregor did put quite a bit more thought and work into the line reading than that.

 

Of course, it was very peculiar to do it because it had been years since I did Obi’s voice, so we watched quite a lot of scenes of me from the films I made, and then I said, ‘When I did it, I was watching Alec Guinness so maybe we should set up some Alec Guinness scenes.’ So that I wasn’t trying to sound like me, I was trying to sound like him.

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It is always interesting to see the level of dedication that McGregor applies to his role as Obi-Wan.  Where other actors might dismiss their Star Wars legacy, McGregor always seems to take his role very seriously and with much joy in being a part of the universe.  And for that dedication, McGregor was rewarded with a sneak peak at the film well ahead of release.

 

There were perks that came along with revisiting the role for “The Force Awakens.” Once they had finished recording, Abrams took McGregor next door to the editing bay for a sneak peek of 20 minutes of footage.  And then Obi-Wan returned to his exile.

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But McGregor didn’t get to see his own work on screen until well later.  He mentioned seeing The Force Awakens in theaters well after its initial release.

 

“I just went in; there weren’t very many of us because it was the middle of the day,” says the actor, who first saw the original “Star Wars” in the theater as a 7-year-old.

“J.J. got to the heart and soul of what we loved about ‘Star Wars’ as kids. It made me feel proud to be a part of it in one way or another with the three that I did.”

 

Head over to The Daily News for the full article.

 

 

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54 thoughts on “Ewan McGregor Discusses his Work on The Force Awakens

  • March 24, 2016 at 9:53 pm
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    Him and McDiarmid were probably the only PT actors not in it purely for a paycheck and it shows. As disliked as the Prequels are, I don’t think most would mind seeing both return via spinoffs or archival footage/forcebacks in the next two episodes.

    • March 24, 2016 at 10:34 pm
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      I suspect Ian, as great as he is, was indeed in it strictly for the paycheque. A couple weeks of work every few years that would have funded a whole bunch of time prepping and directing for his theater company I suspect was what brought him back.

      • March 24, 2016 at 10:43 pm
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        Man’s got to eat. Thankfully he’s a pro with more talent in his little finger compared to a lot of actors.

      • March 24, 2016 at 11:47 pm
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        I knew a guy back in the day who lived in London and fancied himself a proper actor. He worked as a bartender at this famous tavern (who’s name I’ve completely forgotten) that catered to thespians, both famous and not so famous.

        He said McDiarmid would show up and get tanked like the rest of them, but when he was really wasted he would pull out these two little light sabers he had attached to his key ring and start fighting with them at the bar and making sound effects as he did so.

        This fella really hated Star Wars too, so he loved sharing this story over and over again. He said McDiarmid was a hack.

        I told him that might be true, but to millions of people McDiarmid is an Emperor and to a little over a hundred or so you’re just a gossipy barkeep.

      • March 25, 2016 at 3:29 am
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        Hey, considering how he basically HAD to be in the role, he could have charged a bunch of money and then pulled a Marlon Brando, so you gotta commend him for putting in effort when he didn’t have to. Not a lot of credit, but a little credit where it’s due.

      • March 25, 2016 at 4:16 am
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        You may be right but he’s never completely slagged it off like the rest of his contemporaries have. Had some fun jabs it but never said it ruined his career or life.

      • March 27, 2016 at 12:06 am
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        I don’t think so. You can feel how much fun he had playing Palpatine, especially in Sith.

    • March 25, 2016 at 2:25 am
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      Prequels are not disliked. I like Prequels more than originals

        • March 25, 2016 at 5:46 am
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          That’s not entirely true. Look at the review percentages.

          • March 25, 2016 at 6:05 am
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            I’d rather look at fans and my own experiences out in the real world. But whatever.

          • March 25, 2016 at 11:41 am
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            There are fans and critics that enjoyed it. People who hate it just rang more about it on the Internet.

          • March 25, 2016 at 5:30 pm
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            I’m sure.

      • March 25, 2016 at 6:20 am
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        Please. The prequels have been torn apart six ways to Sunday.

  • March 24, 2016 at 9:53 pm
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    Ewan will be back in a future SW movie one way or the other, think that’s pretty certain.

    • March 25, 2016 at 9:04 am
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      Hope you are right! I would love him to reprise this role

  • March 24, 2016 at 10:04 pm
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    Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul: Dawn of Injustice: A Star Wars Story

    • March 24, 2016 at 10:32 pm
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      Begins.

      • March 24, 2016 at 10:34 pm
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        Part 1

        • March 25, 2016 at 2:05 am
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          Origins

      • March 25, 2016 at 3:30 am
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        Kurosawa’s ‘Yojimbo’ is the template. And………GO

    • March 25, 2016 at 10:21 am
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      if only they weren’t putting maul in rebels… i fear now that the chances of an obi-wan/darth maul spin-off film are very slim. *cries forever*

  • March 24, 2016 at 10:17 pm
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    I’d still welcome him back as Obi-Wan… I think he’d shine with great writers and directors.

  • March 24, 2016 at 11:03 pm
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    I’m not a huge fan of the prequels, but I would LOVE to see Ewan come back for a one-off Obi Wan film. His portrayal of Obi Wan was one element of the PT that I never had the slightest difficulty buying into, and I know he’d nail it again if given the opportunity.

  • March 24, 2016 at 11:11 pm
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    Who is this Obee Juan guy everyone keeps talking about??? 😉

    Seriously, Ewan McGregor was the best thing about the prequels. While I don’t really care to see any force ghosts in the ST, if we are going to see one I would prefer it to be Ewan as Obi-Wan.

    • March 25, 2016 at 3:30 am
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      *Ahem*

      • March 25, 2016 at 7:01 pm
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        Ha ha! Oh, it’s you! 🙂

  • March 24, 2016 at 11:42 pm
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    OMG! Ghost of Obi-Wan got his own article?

    I totally didn’t read it.

  • March 25, 2016 at 12:03 am
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    Incoming: comments from haters wanting to get a word in lol

    • March 25, 2016 at 5:01 am
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      Odd comment since there aren’t any negative comments (yet) and most seem to agree that Ewan McGregor’s performance as Obi-Wan was a highlight in the prequels and a great casting choice.

  • March 25, 2016 at 10:20 am
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    honestly hoping for the force ghosts of yoda, obi-wan and anakin throughout episodes 8 and 9.. it’d be a nice nod to the rest of the saga.

    • March 25, 2016 at 3:25 pm
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      I’m thinking the chances are pretty good on that. As long as it adds substance and not just fan service, I think it will be great!

    • March 25, 2016 at 3:27 pm
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      Nah

      • March 25, 2016 at 7:19 pm
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        yeah

      • March 25, 2016 at 9:29 pm
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        why not?

        • March 27, 2016 at 4:58 pm
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          Force ghosts should have an explanation of revealing themselves to others. If it is not going to ruin the saga let them be. But because of Ewoks’ existance I am not confident we would take a nice picture of force ghosts. I believe force ghosts should have the ability to appear in front of some that has a deep connection with him/her of with the force like Luke with Yoda/Obi-Wan/Anakin, or Yoda with Darth Bane, of Obi-Wan and Yoda with Qui Gon.

    • March 26, 2016 at 11:45 pm
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      As long as they find a way to teach Hayden Christiansen how to act.

      • March 27, 2016 at 10:30 pm
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        ^^

      • March 27, 2016 at 11:23 pm
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        All actors in prequels were really bad except Ewan at times… I bet actors were not the problem but the easiest to blame to. Actors also need references but George Lucas was more worried on digital character’s performances than in real ones.

        • March 28, 2016 at 1:44 am
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          Hayden hasn’t been good in ANYTHING though. I’ve sen him in other movies. It’s not pretty.

          • March 28, 2016 at 3:41 am
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            Probably he acted in more movies than George Lucas has directed. Agreed is not a good actor but with proper direction and dialogues could have been better.

          • March 28, 2016 at 7:05 am
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            Better, but still not good. He was miscast.

    • March 27, 2016 at 2:11 pm
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      I think it is time for star wars to turn the page and develop new characters instead of constantly refer to classic ones. The worst of ep VII were Han and Leia… And I would also upgrade “hardware” and fully destroy droids like R2D2 or C3PO who were on the movie only as fan service and totally useless to the history… I bet fan service won’t allow us to see any great star wars movies anymore… Hope to be wrong… Is it needed to make a new Han Solo trilogy? Can’t they create any new characters on a new timeline in star wars universe? I can’t get it… And why should I see again Yoda or Anakin as ghost force? Is it really needed? A nod to classic trilogy to remind me these were good movies but the one I am watching is uncapable of just getting half way of it without keep bringing back the same characters again and again?

      • March 27, 2016 at 10:45 pm
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        What?

        • March 27, 2016 at 11:25 pm
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          What what? If you didn’t understand me just ignore me… But i bet you understood me and the best argument you can give is to make me and my foreign gramar look ridiculous. Go get a live.

          • March 28, 2016 at 1:42 am
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            *life*

            So yeah….

          • March 28, 2016 at 3:43 am
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            Good argument. Now go get it…

          • March 28, 2016 at 7:05 am
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            You forgot the extra dot at the end. I can do this all day….

          • March 28, 2016 at 11:51 am
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            Clearly there is one thing you don’t make even once a year…

          • March 28, 2016 at 11:37 pm
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            You forgot the dot again.

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