Fans who are eagerly awaiting the release of Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi can rest a little easier. Disney Plus has revealed a new poster featuring Ewan McGregor as the exiled Jedi and confirmed the series will debut in May 2022, just in time for the anniversary of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi was reportedly planned as a feature film initially, with filmmaker Stephen Daldry in talks to direct and Hossein Amini on board as a screenwriter. Production even seemed to be on the horizon at one point, but disappointing box office results for Solo: A Star Wars Story prompted Disney to cancel the spin-off films and focus Lucasfilm's efforts on streaming shows.
Fortunately, the project was later developed as a Disney Plus series and, after a few delays to reportedly fine-tune the story, Obi-Wan Kenobi will finally premiere on May 25, 2022. The premiere date for Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi just happens to fall on the same day as the 45th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope's theatrical debut. The release date announcement came with a new poster featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi alone in the desert of Tatooine. While fans will have to zoom in to get a decent glimpse at him, the poster marks the first official look McGregor as Obi-Wan since he last portrayed the character in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Full plots details for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series are still under wraps, though Disney has already confirmed that the show will take place 10 years after Revenge of the Sith. Joining McGregor is his former Star Wars prequels co-star Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader. Though it remains unclear how the two will cross paths again, Disney describes the downfall of Anakin Skywalker and his transformation into Darth Vader as the "greatest defeat" Obi-Wan ever faced.
While even the most supportive Star Wars fans are growing tired of returning to Tatooine in each film and series, Obi-Wan Kenobi is still highly-anticipated despite its familiar setting. This is especially true for younger fans who are, generally speaking, more fond (or at least more forgiving) of the Star Wars prequels they grew up on.
That said, McGregor's performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi is widely regarded as one of the few bright spots of the prequels, even by many of the trilogy's most ardent critics. So, it appears Star Wars fans of all stripes will have something to look forward to when the beloved Jedi Master returns.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on May 25, 2022, on Disney Plus.
Source: Disney