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Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most anticipated series of the year and will officially make its long-awaited appearance in May on the Disney Plus streaming platform. The return of Ewan McGregor as the emblematic Jedi Master sparked enthusiasm within audiences, but the reemergence of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader brought renewed life to a classic antagonist.
Obi-Wan Kenobi comes from director Deborah Chow, who also directed a few episodes from the first season of the Disney Plus original series The Mandalorian. The seasoned director recently explained why Christensen's return as Darth Vader was necessary for the upcoming Star Wars series. Chow indicated that she approached Christensen in 2019 to return as the fearsome figure after an almost 14-year hiatus from the galactic universe.
While speaking with Vanity Fair, Chow was adamant about including a rematch between the Jedi Master and former Padawan, but Lucasfilm felt uncertain about the character's collision. In 2020, however, it was confirmed that Vader would be returning, fueled by Chow's perspective on why the iconic characters should face off once more. Audiences fondly remember the fiery clash in 2005's Revenge of the Sith, but Chow sees something deeper connecting the two characters beyond contempt.
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"For me, across the prequels, through the original trilogy, there's a love-story dynamic with these two that goes through the whole thing," expressed Chow. "I felt like it was quite hard to not include the person who left Kenobi in such anguish in the series." Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader share a long history, which would be hard to ignore in a series following the once Padawan's descent into darkness. Such a profound connection couldn't be bypassed, and Chow realized the thread connecting the two needed to be explored because of their love for one another.
Despite the pain, Kenobi may still harbor an element of care for Vader, which Chow acknowledged. "I don't think he ever will not care about him. What's special about that relationship is that they loved each other." It's unclear how much Vader will be present in this series, but the limited footage reinforces the darkened shadow he casts across the Star Wars galaxy. This series, however, would mark the second time the two characters have faced off, proceeded by the historic clash between the two in 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope. It'll be intriguing to see how things between the characters are explored in this new series to lay the bridge connecting narratives that are decades apart.
Alongside McGregor and Christensen, the Disney Plus original series will star Joel Edgerton, Moses Ingram, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Rupert Friend, and O'Shea Jackson Jr. The series will center around the exiled Jedi Master, who watches over a young Luke Skywalker while evading the emergence of heinous Jedi hunters. Vader is a presence in the background and looks to play a significant role in the hunt for Kenobi, but only time will tell how powerful his presence truly is.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere on Disney Plus on May 27, 2022.
Source: Vanity Fair