Variety reported today that Disney is in development on a new Star Wars standalone movie to feature Obi Wan Kenobi, the Jedi master who has been featured 6 Star Wars movies. The mentor character was played by Alec Guinness in Episodes 4-6 and then by Ewan McGregor in Episodes 1-3. Kenobi is the Jedi knight who trained Anakin Skywalker (before he became Darth Vader) and would later train Luke Skywalker. Sources in Variety’s report claim it’s not clear if this will be the next standalone SW film.
It’s not clear where the story will take place chronologically but director “Billy Elliot’s” Stephen Daldry has already be set to handle the production.Disney has been developing more SW films that act outside of the ongoing series allowing them to do prequels like last year’s ‘Rogue One’ and the upcoming Han Solo film before the next big ‘Episode’ movie is released.
Ewan McGregor was asked about whether or not he would return to the role of Kenobi, and he expressed that he would love to do something that would involve the bridge between Guiness’s Kenobi and his Kenobi in the chronology. In this video interview from March of last year, McGregor teased that he was “very interested” in doing it and he could not openly say whether or not he was speaking with Disney executives about the possible film.