Rumors have begun to flow into that Lucasfilm and Disney+ are contemplating a second season of Obi-Wan Kenobi. This actually is smart, provided that Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of many greatest streaming hits for Disney+, and the return of Ewan McGregor in a fan-favorite function is probably going to attract extra viewers than unique characters like these seen in Skeleton Crew or The Acolyte. But Obi-Wan Kenobi was additionally a broadly divisive present, as many criticized the sequence’ artistic and storytelling selections, notably the choice to adapt what probably would have labored higher as a function movie right into a six-episode streaming sequence.
The concept of Ewan McGregor returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi in 2025 not holds the identical attraction because it did in 2022. Regardless of McGregor nonetheless being distinctive within the function, Star Wars mustn’t transfer ahead with Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2. In all honesty, they need to not return to the effectively of spin-off movies and tv sequence that includes former franchise characters. Obi-Wan Kenobi, The E book of Boba Fett, Solo, and Ahsoka have demonstrated how restricted these concepts are, each by way of storytelling and of their area of interest attraction for viewers engagement. The franchise is just too reliant on trying again as an alternative of paving a brand new approach ahead. Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 is the very last thing Star Wars wants proper now.
Obi-Wan’s Story Is a Lifeless Finish
The foremost problem with Obi-Wan Kenobi returning for Season 2 is what precisely stays of his story to inform. Ewan McGregor thinks there are nonetheless tales left to inform. Obi-Wan Kenobi has already depicted the rematch between the famed Jedi grasp and Darth Vader, which, relying on who you ask, both solves a plot gap from Return of the Jedi or now creates one for Star Wars, as all of Vader’s strains suggest he has not encountered Obi-Wan Kenobi since Revenge of the Sith.
Obi-Wan Kenobi can also’t have the character go off-planet once more, since a part of his character is meant to be staying on Tatooine to observe over Luke Skywalker, which loses some significance if he leaves usually. Whereas Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 might be set completely on Tatooine, it looks as if, after the disappointing response to The E book of Boba Fett, Star Wars will probably keep away from a single planetary set sequence, and notably one centered round probably the most overexposed planet within the sequence. It stays puzzling why Obi-Wan Kenobi, a sequence with a built-in purpose to be set on Tatooine, wasn’t, whereas The E book of Boba Fett was, regardless of the latter presumably benefiting from exploring different planets.
Associated
10 Biggest ‘Star Wars’ Characters Created for TV, Ranked
Star Wars TV reveals have launched simply as many iconic characters to the franchise as the films have.
The sequence may dedicate a complete season to Obi-Wan studying below the Power Ghost of Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn, however that seems like a small-scale, introspective season of tv. Neeson’s return in Obi-Wan Kenobi was met with nice fan pleasure, and audiences would undoubtedly like to see extra of Qui-Gon Jinn, however is that sufficient? Kenobi’s closing encounter with Darth Maul was already depicted in Rebels, and if the development of Disney live-action films has taught us something, merely adapting one thing to live-action isn’t a enough justification. The reality is, the thrilling elements of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s story are accomplished and accounted for.
‘Star Wars’ Wants To Study To Transfer On
Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 appears probably as a result of Lucasfilm and Disney had deliberate to function Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan ever for the reason that concept was first pitched as a movie. When information broke that Lucasfilm was contemplating an Obi-Wan Kenobi film in 2017, it was assumed it could be just like Rogue One and Solo, a standalone one-off movie with no sequels to interrupt up the releases of the extra serialized sequel trilogy. Nonetheless, author Stuart Beattie revealed that he had plans for an Obi-Wan Kenobi trilogy of movies. But, as outlined beforehand, it would not really feel like there’s a lot of a narrative to inform about Obi-Wan Kenobi that hasn’t already been explored in animation and even in comics.
Lucasfilm contemplating an Obi-Wan Kenobi trilogy, or perhaps a Season 2 of the sequence, speaks to a bigger problem Star Wars is having relating to shifting on from pre-established characters. This is not a “let the previous die” state of affairs, as a result of even The Final Jedi would not totally imagine that, since it’s stated by the movie’s villain, Kylo Ren. No, that is greater than Star Wars must develop past the identical characters if it desires to outlive sooner or later. One of the best proof of that is each the sequel trilogy and The Mandalorian.
Associated
Did the ‘Andor’ Season 2 Finale Sneak a New Character Into the ‘Star Wars’ Universe?
‘Andor’s closing episode featured a game-changing reveal about Cassian’s legacy, which might be carried over into future ‘Star Wars’ tales.
Regardless of bringing again unique trilogy actors to reprise their iconic roles, the sequel trilogy additionally created lovable new heroes and villains who turned fan favorites. Characters like Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, BB-8, Rose Tico, and Kylo Ren have loads of storytelling potentialities to discover, and audiences do need extra of them that might carry over into future initiatives. Disney is at present engaged on a Daisy Ridley-led Rey solo movie, increasing on a brand new character they created, just like Andor, which builds off the character Cassian Andor from Rogue One — a personality not within the unique trilogy however now a key a part of the Star Wars mythology.
The Mandalorian has launched two new characters, the titular hero and Grogu, who’ve develop into the brand new faces of the franchise for a complete technology. Even individuals who do not watch The Mandalorian are acquainted with Grogu. They’re so common that they have been upgraded from a streaming sequence to a function movie with The Mandalorian and Grogu in Might 2026. These new characters are nice in their very own proper, however permit Star Wars to maneuver past its unique core forged of characters, so the franchise is not caught with deep-fake de-aged Luke Skywalker and AI-generated voiced Darth Vader.
Star Wars Has an Unsure Future
Kathleen Kennedy just lately outlined Star Wars‘ plan shifting ahead, which is to deal with extra standalone tales, ones constructed round new characters that do not connect with the broader universe however may develop into their distinctive corners of the franchise. That sounds thrilling and delivers on the promise of the cantina scene in Star Wars, which means that this can be a galaxy full of heroes, villains, and aliens from a thousand worlds, every with their very own distinctive tales. Star Wars wants extra of that, and fewer retreads of the identical previous characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Thus far, that seems to be the plan shifting ahead, with Starfighter specializing in a brand new group of characters, Simon Kinberg writing his trilogy of movies, and James Mangold’s Daybreak of the Jedi function movie. If the case is to ascertain new tales, why renew Obi-Wan Kenobi?
Everybody loves Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi. He’s the perfect proof that Star Wars shouldn’t be afraid to recast beloved characters from the franchise. He had a exceptional tenure because the character, usually outshining lots of the movies and tv sequence during which he was featured. However between a number of movie appearances, animated sequence episodes, books, comics, and his Disney+ sequence, there was loads of Obi-Wan Kenobi. It is time to let him go and construct on different characters that may carry the franchise ahead. As a substitute of Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2, perhaps Skeleton Crew Season 2? Or renew The Acolyte? Only a thought. Obi-Wan Kenobi is streaming on Disney+.