Could Obi-Wan Kenobi See Ben & Ani Team-Up?
The Disney Investor Day 2020 presentation happened just a few weeks ago, although given my weekend, it feels like a lifetime. However, sometimes when time moves slowest, thinking about my favorite fandoms keeps me connected to others. This time, the Star Wars fandom stepped in to distract me. And in a time of isolation, it connected me to others also thinking about how Obi-Wan Kenobi survived while hiding out on Tatooine for ALLLLL THAT TIME.
Photo: Disney Investor Day Presentation 2020
Besides, at times, fantasy is better than reality, and science says that’s a-okay sometimes – like that time Hayden Christensen‘s Darth Vader yelled, “I hate you! I hate you!!!!!! I HATE YOU!!!!!.” Daydreams… All jokes aside, this writer is pretty darn excited about the latest theory to come out of the Star Wars fandom about the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+!
Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+
President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy spilled the caf on the premise of the upcoming Obi-Wan series at the investor presentation – thanks John Bishop for the awesome joke! And, luckily for me, the official first look at Obi-Wan Kenobi included the announcement that Christensen is definitely returning as Darth Vader.
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Kathleen Kennedy (President of Lucasfilm) at D23 EXPO in 2019 in Anaheim, California. Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
Kennedy teased that the limited series “will be the rematch of the century” between Master and Apprentice, saying:
Obi-Wan Kenobi begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Revenge of the Sith, where [Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor)] faced his greatest defeat: the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker turned-evil-Sith-Lord, Darth Vader. [Obi-Wan] will be the rematch of the century.
Long before Christensen was confirmed, there was already plenty of speculation that Vader would play a central role in the show. After all, many actors have played the character on-screen, so Disney and Lucasfilm didn’t need Christensen for Lord Vader to have returned for the series. However, it’s great to have Christensen’s Ani back in the fold!
Photo: Lucasfilm
And it seems like the actors are happy about it too! McGregor and Christensen (which is surprising because he famously quit acting after filming the Star Wars prequels) are both excited to return to their roles.
What We Know About Obi-Wan Kenobi…So Far…
Interviews were aired during top-secret footage shown at the investor presentation, which unfortunately, was not shown to the general public, but it was cited at ComicBook.com. Read on…
“There’s a hunger for this character to come back,” McGregor said in footage screened exclusively for investors during Thursday’s presentation. “The fans have been waiting long enough, you know?”
Added Chow, “This is quite a dark time that we’re coming into with him, just being a Jedi – it’s not safe. There’s Jedi hunters out there.”
Photo: Lucasfilm
“We couldn’t tell the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi without addressing Anakin or Vader,” Chow added over an image of the armored Vader seated on a throne as he communicates with a hologram — possibly his master, the reigning Emperor of the Galactic Empire.
“The most beautiful thing of all is that it’s brought me back together with Hayden,” a giddy McGregor said. “It’ll be amazing to bring those characters back together again, very unexpectedly.”
But how do these two characters come back together? Well, this pop culture writer is ready with a theory!
Ani and Ben: Team-Up or Steam-Up?
In the investor day clip, Chow says it’s a dark time in the galaxy, and “there’s Jedi hunters out there.” And, long time Star Wars fans have seen some Jedi hunters before, including my faves – Second Sister the Vampire Slayer and Doctor Aphra and the Murder Droids – both of whom help Darth Vader track down the Jedi and younglings who survived Order 66.
Photo: Marvel
Given the historical context, it’s possible that the reunion of the two characters won’t be a happy one – after all, we know that Obi-Wan is on Tatooine to protect Luke from his father, Vader, who’s currently tracking down anyone who is force sensitive (and killing them).
Photo: Marvel Comics
Photo: Marvel Comics
For the adventurous, who are ready to get reading, some of these comics are available for download on Marvel Unlimited (or you can watch Star Wars: Rebels, which is now streaming on Disney+, for the Second Sister story). And I would recommend all: each is a great escape to a galaxy far, far away while we wait for Obi-Wan Kenobi to premiere on Disney+.
