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Obi-Wan Kenobi Director Addresses Star Wars Prequel Connections & Cameos
Obi-Wan Kenobi director Deborah Chow recently addressed the upcoming series' connections and possible cameos to the Star Wars prequel films.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Director Addresses Star Wars Prequel Connections & Cameos

Director Deborah Chow recently addressed the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series’ connections to the prequel films and possible Star Wars cameos. Initially announced in 2019, the new Disney+ series is the latest entry in the Star Wars franchise. Set a decade after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Ewan McGregor reprises the role of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, a role he first played in George Lucas’ Star Wars prequel trilogy.

In 1999, George Lucas returned to the franchise that changed cinema in 1977 and released Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The film told the story of the downfall of the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic and the rise of Emperor Palpatine and his authoritarian Galactic Empire. Although reception to the series was mixed, the films greatly expanded the franchise’s lore. They also introduced many popular new characters and younger versions of fan favorites, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi director spoke to EW  about the upcoming series’ connections with the Star Wars prequel films. Chow explained that the series would draw much of its narrative from the Galactic Republic period. As is the case, this will include cameos from prominent characters in the prequel films. Read what Chow said below.

“Given the nature of our characters, the strongest connective tissue is to the prequels for us. Because in large part, that’s where our characters are coming from and that’s where their stories started. So really the prequels are sort of the most connected to our series.”

“Obviously I came from The Mandalorian, so a lot of that DNA is in me. And a lot of my Jedi masters, with John Favreau and Dave Filoni, are also just sort of embedded in me now, but I wasn’t looking to tie in necessarily anything. It was just trying to tell the story with integrity to the character, and so that was the connection to the prequels.”

Chow, who also directed two episodes of The Mandalorian season 1, explained that she was not intentionally trying to reference other Star Wars media. The story of Obi-Wan Kenobi required elements to be pulled from the prequel trilogy to tell the best story possible. With Hayden Christensen announced, returning as Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker, as well as Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse reprising their roles as Luke Skywalker’s Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, respectively, the new series already has an impressive returning prequel cast. Jimmy Smits, who played Princess Leia’s adoptive father, Bail Organa, is also rumored to return based on a previous sighting of the actor appearing at the upcoming series’ set location. However, his return has yet to be officially confirmed.

The time frame of Obi-Wan Kenobi opens the door to many potential cameos from the prequel film series. Although former Jedi Ahsoka and Jedi Master Yoda are possibilities, their inclusion in the new show is unlikely due to the nature of their exile. Yoda hid from the Dark Side on the swamp planet Dagobah, and Ahsoka also went into hiding following the Siege of Mandalore. However, she may have a higher chance of appearing as she became intertwined with the Rebellion against the Empire leading up to A New Hope, as seen in the popular animated Star Wars: Rebels. There may be a good chance that Obi-Wan’s deceased former mentor, Qui-Gon Jin (Liam Neeson), may make a surprise appearance to his old Padawan through the force as well. When previously asked about Neeson’s role in the forthcoming show, Chow dodged the question and said that the audience could expect some surprises when Obi-Wan Kenobi lands on Disney+ on May 27.