Introduction
The journey of Obi-Wan Kenobi has been a rollercoaster ride for fans, with its ups and downs, offering a different experience compared to The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. While the latest episode was well-received, with only one more episode left, fans are left wondering if that’s the end of it.
A Desire for More
Interestingly, all the major players involved in the show have expressed their desire to continue, despite the fact that Obi-Wan Kenobi was originally conceived and written as a standalone miniseries consisting of these six episodes.
Showrunner Deborah Chow shared her thoughts on the matter with RadioTimes:
“I mean, there are of course more stories that you could tell. There’s obviously another 10 years before we get to A New Hope, and with a character like Obi-Wan Kenobi, I think even just watching him ride across the sand sometimes is interesting. So, who knows? It’s hard to say right now, but it was not the intention.”
Star Ewan McGregor echoed this sentiment:
“I hope it’s not the last time I play him,” he noted. “I had such a great time doing this, I’m sure we can think of a few more stories before I turn into Alec Guinness, don’t you think?”
Hayden Christensen, who portrays Obi-Wan’s nemesis Darth Vader, also expressed his interest in continuing with the character:
“Well, it was definitely conceived as a standalone story. But I would love to continue with this character. You know, I think there’s certainly more there to explore, and I would be so excited to get to do so.”
This unanimous desire for more episodes suggests that even though the series was initially intended to conclude, there are still plenty of untold stories to delve into. The possibility of spin-offs featuring Reva or a Darth Vader-focused series with Hayden Christensen has also been discussed. However, a second season of Obi-Wan Kenobi appears to be the most straightforward option.
Future Possibilities
It’s worth noting that there are already existing canon stories that cover the ten-year gap between this show and A New Hope, particularly those depicted in Star Wars Rebels, where Obi-Wan confronts and defeats Darth Maul once again. Translating this iconic moment to live action might be challenging, but anything is possible.
While the ongoing Leia rescue mission is expected to be resolved in the upcoming episode, ensuring her safe return to Alderaan, we also know that Reva and Darth Vader won’t catch up to and kill Obi-Wan, as he eventually returns to Tatooine. However, Luke’s safety becomes a concern, as Reva discovers his existence. Nonetheless, we already know the ultimate fate of the characters involved. The question remains: How can the story conclude while setting up another adventure for Ben in the future? It seems that this aspect wasn’t a major consideration during the writing process, so any potential continuation would require a fresh and original direction to take Obi-Wan out of hiding.
Conclusion
It’s unclear if the desire of the actors to continue portraying these characters will be enough to justify extending a series that is already facing challenges in terms of narrative relevance. However, there are undoubtedly numerous Star Wars fans who simply want to see McGregor and Christensen together, reprising their roles as Ben and Anakin. One possibility could be adapting some of the best arcs from Clone Wars into live-action, exploring the past and moving further back in time. But as of now, the future of the series remains uncertain, and we might have to wait some time for any official announcements.
