KENOBI: The Life. The Legend...The Movie?

[JD]

Ehn. Count me out on the Kenobi standalone film. I found the "Obi Wan: Private Eye" segments of the PT to be the most boring parts of those films. I also think that, compared to the other characters who might merit such a vehicle, he's the one with the least interesting backstory.

My opinion, of course. I'm aware he has a huge fan following. But is a huge FAN following (not a huge following) enough to warrant such a financial gamble?

Here's some of the extras:

An (extended) interview with John Jackson Miller on Roqoo Depot. There were many other interviews on Youtube, but this one I thought provided the best insight from the author.

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There is also a part 2, which contains spoilers.

The Audible Audiobook for Kenobi(The Book) is actually up on youtube right now, but I would always recommend reading the actual book over the audiobook, if one has the time. Star Wars audiobooks are usually top quality and have very good voice actors, but some of the advantages of reading a book in the first place are lost.

And here's the link for Audible:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-F...f=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1502738589&sr=1-1
There's a sample available.

The motion comics are no longer on youtube. It was Marvel Star Wars #7, and #15. I did find issue 20, which appears to be another Ben Kenobi story. I just haven't read it.

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As far as I know the audiobook on youtube and the motion comics are posted illegally, so you might want to be careful.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/he...star-wars-film-planned-director-talks-1030505

Hmm

If this wasn't from THR I'd be more skeptical, but they're pretty trustworthy so there's actually a pretty good chance this will happen. I really hope it does, Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan was one of the best parts of the PT, and I would gladly watch a movie focused on him. The two characters I most wanted to see get "Star Wars Story" movies were Obi-Wan and Boba Fett, so now they just need to find a new director for the Boba Fett movie and I'll be very happy.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I think Kennedy/Disney is perfectly aware that a Kenobi film has been atop just about every fan's list since they first announced the were doing the side films. So whether it's confirmed now or not, I think there's still a good probability of happening.

I think the reason why they initially put it off is because it will have to be the first one to stand on its own--or even be the first film in the next "era" of the franchise. Rogue One was too big of a departure and the Han movie always had the lingering issue of how accepting fans would be of someone other than Harrison.

But McGregor (And I honestly can't see this going forward with someone else) has already passed that test. I mean I don't know anyone who doesn't praise him. Even the strongest of PT haters love the guy. And by pushing it back to 2020ish, he'll be in the sweet spot age wise.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I hope we have an official announcement soon because I would love to see this film.

But McGregor (And I honestly can't see this going forward with someone else) has already passed that test. I mean I don't know anyone who doesn't praise him. Even the strongest of PT haters love the guy. And by pushing it back to 2020ish, he'll be in the sweet spot age wise.

This is the one time where taking their time to produce the film is to the film's advantage.

 

[kirk55555]

I really hope this happens. With the condition that it has to be with Ewan McGregor. If its some BS "Here's the story of 10 year old Obi-Wan becoming Qui Gon's padawan" I'll both be very pissed and have absolutely no interest in it. But, I honestly can't see them going that route, especially for a mainstream movie. McGregor wants to do it, he's one of the few Prequel elements that is generally really liked and there is a 20 year period that could hold at least one big story without messing up the events of the universe. It seems like the perfect setting for an anthology movie, and the Kenobi book showed that you can tell a great story in the setting (even if the movie does something different then the book, it proved the potential for stories with Kenobi on Tattoine).

 

[JD]

Don't forget they've also done three or four stories about Obi-Wan between ROTS and ANH in the current (no subtitle) Star Wars comic book series, so there's plenty of stories to tell in that era.

 

[marillion]

It will just be interesting to see how they hold true to, and I hate to even say it, continuity.... There are only a scarce few who know where Obi Wan is and what he is doing.. The Organa family, of course.. Yoda... So would they try to tie him into some kind of mission against the Empire while he's hanging out in the desert?

Or do they, as some have hoped, go the way they did with Logan and have a stand alone story of him just making his way... Living his live while trying to protect his identity and protect Luke as well... Hmmmmmm.. I haven't read any of the stand alone Obi Wan comics, but now I'm thinking I may have to track them down..

 

[The Wormhole]

I would hope this movie did focus solely on his time on Tatooine with him just getting involved in some sort of planet bound drama. The whole point of his "exile" is that he's cut off from the rest of the galaxy. They cut things pretty close with the story on Rebels with Darth Maul, but thankfully that didn't do anything that doesn't "fit" at all.

And there's plenty of drama on Tatooine to fuel such a movie. Mos Eisley is a hive of scum and villainy, the other settlements aren't much better, Jabba's palace is always attracting seedy and unsavory folk. And if the wanted to tie things into greater Star Wars lore they can always have some scenes with Obi-Wan communing with Qui-Gon. As it would only be a voice role, I can't imagine them having much problem getting Liam Neeson involved, he did do a few Clone Wars episodes after all.

 

[marillion]

It wouldn't necessarily have to be voice only.. Obi appeared to Luke as a Ghost...

I agree with the idea of a planet-bound focus on the story... Would still have to be careful interacting with the likes of Jabba and his assorted collective.. The Hutts are well connected and know the Empire would pay a pretty penny to learn the location of one of the last remaining Jedi.. If we went around wielding his light saber or force-throwing people against a wall, it wouldn't take long for word to get out.

 

[Prax]

Exactly. No Galactic nonsense.
It would be nice to have it be more of a genre film. I was really surprised at the direction they went with Logan. I wouldn't want an R rated Kenobi movie or one so depressing, but it could be a good meaningful western/samurai.

The book isn't written from Ben's pov, its more from the settlers, (and their enemies) but each chapter has an interlude of Ben trying to commune with Qui-Gonn, who still has not spoken to him. They could include that, or maybe show Ben writing a diary for Luke to one day read.

Ewan doesn't seem to age. I think the movie could take place almost any time, whether it be shortly after Episode 3, or 10 years later. I would hope earlier, as the story could be about Obi-Wan struggling to become "Ben." He has to go from a galactic hero to desert hermit. He's used to being in the thick of the action, politics, leading armies, etc.

 

[Reverend]

From what's been said by LF (mostly surrounding his appearance on Rebels) I get the sense that the official line is that Kenobi never left Tatooine between RotS & ANH. His mission was too important for him to abandon his watch.
So yeah, assuming there's any truth to this (still only rumours as far as I can tell) I suspect they'll go the 'Logan' route and make it a contained (and landlocked!) character study.

For those moaning that such a one "wouldn't be a real Star Wars movie", I'd suggest remembering that aside from the old 'Flash Gordon' serial, two of the other *major* influences are John Ford westerns and Akira Kurosawa samurai jidaigeki. Hell, before casting Guinness, Lucas approached Toshiro Mifune himself to play Kenobi (and Vader, after he turned down Obi-Wan.)

The only other credible route they could take would be a young padawan Kenobi movie, which I honestly can't see happening.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I mentioned in another thread that his early relationship with Satine has potential, but I'd still rather have A Fist Full of Yojimbo's Lightsaber.

 

[marillion]

Of course, depending on when they time it, Ben could have some interactions with Owen and Baru, while Luke is still a toddler.. Luke knows enough to know about him later in his life, so it's not like he's a total stranger to them. I would imagine over time, Owen becomes concerned that Ben even being on the same planet puts Luke in jeopardy and so that drives a rift between them. And frankly, he's right... If someone discovers a Jedi hanging out there, someone's going to let the empire know. And once Vader comes looking for him, there's no way he's not going to sense Luke's presence...

 

[Reverend]

I mentioned in another thread that his early relationship with Satine has potential, but I'd still rather have A Fist Full of Yojimbo's Lightsaber.

Yeah, the Satine story is the logical one if they want to go the "padawan Kenobi" route and there's enough similarities to the earlier more 'Hidden Fortress' inspired drafts of Star Wars that you could even mine some of that material for inspiration. But honestly, I can't see a movie audience really engaging with it. It's more well suited to either a novel or a comic book IMO.

Of course, depending on when they time it, Ben could have some interactions with Owen and Baru, while Luke is still a toddler.. Luke knows enough to know about him later in his life, so it's not like he's a total stranger to them. I would imagine over time, Owen becomes concerned that Ben even being on the same planet puts Luke in jeopardy and so that drives a rift between them. And frankly, he's right... If someone discovers a Jedi hanging out there, someone's going to let the empire know. And once Vader comes looking for him, there's no way he's not going to sense Luke's presence...

I could be misremembering, but I think the shooting script had a line in the scene where Luke comes to that indicates they already know each other. Something to the effect of "you've grown since the last time we met."
Even without that, there's enough context in what made it into the final cut to indicate that both Luke and the Lars knew Kenobi first hand, if only in passing.

Not sure I agree about Owen's motivations though. I think he's less concerned with Ben being found out than he is for Ben being (in his eyes) a bad influence on Luke.

Granted, he didn't know Anakin hardly at all, but he knew Shmi and she must have told stories of her sweet, generous hearted son who was rescued from slavery to become a great Jedi.
Who knows how much Obi-Wan told them of what became of Anakin (probably nothing more than "he died in the war") but for a person like Owen, clearly going out into the galaxy to seek adventure is an unhealthy life choice.

 

[Prax]

Owen is a jerk to Ben, both in the old and new continuity. He probably doesn't have a very good impression of Jedi. In ep2, Anakin just swoops in on his fancy ship with his fancy girlfriend. He's angry and aloof, then he goes and slaughters a whole tribe of sandpeople that had just killed 30 settlers, brings his moms body back, and zoooommm, he disappears never to return. He didn't even say goodbye.

Then Owen probably saw on the news how the Jedi were responsible for this massive war and tried to take over the government. He doesn't want Luke to have anything to do with those crazy Jedi.

 

[Tuskin38]

Anakin also stole their droid.

3PO was owned by his mother, so depending on how marriage laws work on Tatooine, it might have belonged to Owen's father after she died lmao

 

[Reverend]

Owen is a jerk to Ben, both in the old and new continuity. He probably doesn't have a very good impression of Jedi. In ep2, Anakin just swoops in on his fancy ship with his fancy girlfriend. He's angry and aloof, then he goes and slaughters a whole tribe of sandpeople that had just killed 30 settlers, brings his moms body back, and zoooommm, he disappears never to return. He didn't even say goodbye.

Then Owen probably saw on the news how the Jedi were responsible for this massive war and tried to take over the government. He doesn't want Luke to have anything to do with those crazy Jedi.

He may be something of a curmudgeon, but first and foremost Owen is a protective father figure. Just watch the scene where Luke talks about going to the academy. He's not dictatorial, he's trying to persuade Luke and takes a conciliatory tack. It's not because he's a jerk, he knows if Luke goes to the academy he'll end up recruited into the military and will never return and probably end up dead.

Anakin also stole their droid.

3PO was owned by his mother, so depending on how marriage laws work on Tatooine, it might have belonged to Owen's father after she died lmao

There was a scene written (and I think filmed?) where Owen gifts 3PO to Padme because he thinks it's what Shmi would have wanted.

 

[arch101]

I would buy my ticket today for this film if I could.

 

[Prax]

Im talking about how he treats Ben. They don't interact in the films, but in some of the books and new canon comics, Owen is pretty harsh towards Ben. He's often yelling at him.

There's the story of when Luke and a friend go out and get lost in the wastes, and Kenobi saves them from a dragon. He brings them home safe and sound and Owen flips out and threatens Obi-Wan. Im not sure if this has been retold yet, but this was supposed to be how Luke met Obi-Wan.

Yeah, I understand why he would want to protect Luke, especially from Jedi.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Clarifying the fallout between Lars and Kenobi is something worthwhile to address. I agree that Ben shouldn't leave Tatooine. I've always thought that. His mission is too important, absolutely.

 

[The Wormhole]

It wouldn't necessarily have to be voice only.. Obi appeared to Luke as a Ghost...

Actually, yeah, if they were going to feature Qui-Gon in the movie, it would have to be strictly a voice role. In Clone Wars it was established that because he died prior to perfecting Force Ghosting, Qui-Gon is incapable of manifesting a visual form and can only communicate as a disembodied voice. IIRC, this was based on a scene scripted for ROTS in which Obi-Wan and Yoda do briefly commune with Qui-Gon before going their separate ways.