Everything We Know About Obi-Wan Kenobi So Far

The "Star Wars" Sequel Trilogy might seem like the basis of a perpetual internet war that will forever divide the fandom, but at one point much the same could have been said about the prequels. Once derided as nothing short of the worst movies ever made, a certain generation of fans — okay I'll 'fess up to it, it's mostly my generation — have rehabilitated the movies as worthy additions to the canon in their own right ... missteps and all. One thing fans of all ages can agree on is the casting of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, seamlessly takings his cues from Alec Guinness' legendary portrayal of the same character in the original movies. In the biggest sign yet that Lucasfilm isn't trying to relegate the Prequel Trilogy to the dustbin of history, the studio announced an "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series to debut on Disney+ that's bound to draw as much (or even more) attention than "The Mandalorian."

Though we have a surprising amount of confirmed information regarding the series, there's still much more we don't know. Follow along as we attempt to connect all the dots and answer as much as possible about what to expect from "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi" is scheduled to debut exclusively on the Disney+ streaming service sometime in 2022. The six-episode series is currently anticipated to last no more than one season, as McGregor himself has described it as "standalone" ... though not without leaving some wiggle room for more, if the story and the audience calls for it. Filming began in the spring of 2021, which would optimistically put the premiere date in the vicinity of the first half of 2022. While the exact release date might still be in question, we do know that McGregor himself couldn't be more excited about how this series will carve out its own space separate from the "tedious" filming of the prequels. In alluding to the similar technology used on "The Mandalorian," McGregor described the experience as:

"They project [the virtual backgrounds] onto this massive LED screen. So if you're in a desert, you're standing in the middle of a desert. If you're in the snow, you're surrounded by snow. And if you're in a cockpit of a starfighter, you're in space. It's going to feel so much more real."

This question is a little easier to answer, thanks to Lucasfilm. Described as the "rematch of the century," the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series will see Obi-Wan now in hiding after the shocking events of "Revenge of the Sith" saw the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the near-eradication of the Jedi Order. Exiled to Tatooine, an older and more rugged Obi-Wan (though not quite to Alec Guinness-levels just yet!) will come face-to-face with Anakin once more, though now as the menacing Darth Vader. It remains to be seen whether this will be a literal rematch, which could risk diluting the power of their face-off in "A New Hope" (although then again, perhaps not), or a more metaphorical one that involves flashbacks, dream sequences, or that classic "Star Wars" penchant for visions and Force-influenced manifestations.

The plot of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" has been officially described as:

"The story begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where Kenobi faced his greatest defeat, the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker turned evil Sith Lord Darth Vader."

Lucasfilm didn't exactly have far to look when they hired Deborah Chow to helm "Obi-Wan Kenobi." The Canadian filmmaker of Chinese-Australian descent has previous experience directing "Mr. Robot," "Iron Fist," "Fear the Walking Dead," "Jessica Jones," "Better Call Saul," and "The Mandalorian," making her a very familiar face with Disney. At the time of the initial announcement, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy stated:

"We really wanted to select a director who is able to explore both the quiet determination and rich mystique of Obi-Wan in a way that folds seamlessly into the Star Wars saga. Based on her phenomenal work developing our characters in The Mandalorian, I'm absolutely confident Deborah is the right director to tell this story."

The series is written by Joby Harold, the writer of such projects as "Awake," "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword," and Zack Snyder's "Army of the Dead." He came onto the project after the rather drastic decision to temporarily shut down production of the show in January of 2020 and essentially start over, but it sounds like the show has been smooth sailing ever since.

Rumors and speculation have flown rampant around "Obi-Wan Kenobi" since before the series was even officially announced. One rumor that can be safely shot down is that actor Ahmed Best will not be returning to reprise the character of Jar-Jar Binks. As much as Best has experienced a stunning and well-deserved about-face from fans who have come to embrace him in response to rampant toxicity directed towards him over the years, this one is ... probably for the best.

Before "The Mandalorian" beat it to the punch with a digitally de-aged recreation, at one time it seemed that Lucasfilm was looking to recast Luke Skywalker with a younger actor for an appearance on "Obi-Wan Kenobi." Of course, the timeline of the show would mean that this would necessitate a 10-year-old Luke. That certainly feels like a possibility that remains on the table, with the official return of Joel Edgerton as Uncle Owen Lars. Of course, Hayden Christensen is the other familiar face making his grand return after years apart from "Revenge of the Sith." Otherwise, the new cast includes Kumail Nanjiani, Sung Kang of "Fast & Furious" fame, Moses Ingram, Bonnie Piesse, Rupert Friend, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell, and Benny Safdie.