Disney is still keeping a tight grip on all information regarding the upcoming Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series (which sadly won't feature Jar Jar Binks), so fans have to gather up whatever scraps they can find. Interestingly, the latest tiny morsel to fall off the table comes from a vintage car social media page, of all places. But considering the drought of knowledge currently suffered by Star Wars die-hards, it's better than nothing. Plus, it features the return of an old friend, assuming facial hair counts as a friend.
Ewan McGregor himself, the face behind Obi-Wan Kenobi since 1999's The Phantom Menace, made a surprise appearance on the Instagram of classic vehicle enthusiast Randy Carlson. While no details were given as to why the actor appeared in Carlson's garage, that's not the big story here. The real scoop is the presence of McGregor's signature beard that visually defined his role as Kenobi in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Plus, it's a car place. He likes cars. That's not news, that's dad talk.
The implication here is that the beard is specifically for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, which is set to begin production this month (assuming it hasn't already started). Eagle-eyed fans will note that McGregor's hair looks to be a bit on the long side, putting his look more in line with how he appeared in Attack of the Clones rather than the shorter styles seen in Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars trilogy, as sported by the late Sir Alec Guinness.
McGregor's beard almost feels like an old friend returning, which seems to be the theme of Star Wars lately. For every series like The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars, a hydra-esque group of spin-offs sprouts up from their ashes with a focus on fan favorites like The Book of Boba Fett and The Bad Batch. It's certainly effective in bringing in long-time fans of the franchise, but there's something to be said for more original content.
That's not to say there's no place for a series like Obi-Wan Kenobi, especially since McGregor himself appears eager to be part of it. But truly unique and standalone mainstream stories in the Star Wars universe appear to be getting fewer and further between. Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi provided an enticing glimpse into a franchise that takes more risks, and hopefully, his own upcoming standalone Star Wars trilogy will follow that trend.
But for now, Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi looks to be a fine addition to the franchise for what it is. McGregor appears excited, and the fans are definitely ready, so it's certainly high time to say "hello there" once again.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will be available exclusively on Disney Plus.
Source: Randy Carlson/Instagram