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The first look at Darth Vader has surfaced for the upcoming Disney Plus original limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Hayden Christensen will don the frightening suit of the galactic antagonist, reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker from the Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is the third Star Wars series from Disney Plus, following The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. The series is set in the years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, focusing on the Jedi Master and his diligent watch over young Luke Skywalker while sequestered on Tatooine. The dark cloud of the Empire seeks to eradicate all Jedi from the galaxy, which prompts the Grand Inquisitor, directed by Darth Vader, to hunt for Obi-Wan. The series reunites McGregor and Christensen while equally introducing new and formidable villains to the galaxy.
While new villains are surfacing, the iconic labored mechanical breathing at the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi teaser reminds audiences of a more significant threat lurking in the shadows. After a 17-year absence from the role, Christensen is back as Darth Vader and looks to bring something even more potent to the series. The first image provided by Entertainment Weekly showcases Darth Vader appearing to emerge from his meditation chamber. As noted, this creates assumptions that Vader may be seen without his helmet since the chamber allows for its removal. Christensen, however, will neither confirm nor deny the possibility, thus leaving assumptions to fester until the series is officially released.
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"I wish I could tell you," expressed Christensen. "I'm sworn to secrecy." Unfortunately, aside from his mechanical breathing, the teaser strategically left the Sith Lord out, making it difficult to pinpoint the type of Vader audiences will see. Christensen, however, provided some insight into the role and made it known that audiences were going to see a "very powerful Vader" throughout this new Star Wars adventure. It's unclear how often Vader will appear in the series, but his presence looks to be a lingering shadow that is consistently there. "His shadow is cast across so much of what we do," stated series writer Joby Harold. "He is very much a part of the show emotionally for Obi-Wan, and possibly beyond that as well."
While Christensen is back beneath the helmet, it's hard to ignore a critical element to Darth Vader, which is his iconic voice. Having voiced the role in the franchise's inaugural trilogy, many associate James Earl Jones with the villain, but the veteran actor is not confirmed to be a returning figure in the series. Not much of the Sith Lord has surfaced, but it will be interesting to see if the voice maintains some familiarity or if Christensen will add something new by donning the suit and voicing the character. Nevertheless, the return of Darth Vader has sparked more enthusiasm for an already anticipated series, which will heighten further if additional pieces of footage showcase more of the symbolic villain.
Alongside McGregor and Christensen, the series will star Joel Edgerton, reprising his role as Uncle Owen. In addition, the teaser provided audiences with a glimpse of an imposing Inquisitor named Reva, played by Moses Ingram. The teaser also offered a look at a young Luke Skywalker, but it's unclear how significant his role will be in the upcoming series. The return of Darth Vader has been present since Christensen's return to the role, so Disney kept no secret there, but seeing the villain ignites a different emotional response that eats away at the need to see more.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere May 25, 2022, on Disney Plus.
Source: Entertainment Weekly