Star Wars' Ewan McGregor Reveals The 'Annoying' Part Of Returning To The Obi-Wan Role

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) looks on in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Star Wars fans have a lot to be excited about over the next few years, as numerous TV shows are in various stages of development. One of those is Obi-Wan Kenobi, which will finally see Ewan McGregor return to the franchise to play the iconic Jedi Master and Tatooine hermit. The actor is happy to be back in the galaxy far, far away for a number of reasons, one of which is the cutting-edge technology being used. However, McGregor recently revealed that there is one aspect of returning to the role that did prove to be somewhat “annoying.”

Although Obi-Wan Kenobi was officially announced in 2019 and has just entered production, the project has been in the works for years. The project was kept under wraps, though, and McGregor was sworn to secrecy. Unfortunately, his inability to say anything about the role became a bit irritating:

That was annoying. Every interview I ever did for, you know, years, people would say, 'Well, are the rumors true?' And I'd have to sort of, I'd have to lie. I'd have to say, 'Well, you know, I don't know. I'd be happy to play him one day again.'

Over the years, Star Wars fans likely grew tired of hearing Ewan McGregor give that same answer to Obi-Wan questions, so it’s interesting to learn that answering that way was just as hard on him. During his interview with CBS Sunday Morning, McGregor spoke more on the repetitive nature of the interviews and how he tried not to be totally dishonest with his answers:

It started looking like I was sort of asking Disney for a job. Like, every interview I was asked that. 'Well, I'd be happy to play him again,’ and it was just a way of, like, trying not to be dishonest, but at the same time not telling the truth. … It’s nice the cat is out of the bag.

Franchises like Star Wars typically involve a massive amount of secrecy, so it’s no surprise this has also been the case for Obi-Wan Kenobi. For instance, former Mandalorian star Gina Carano once explained the extreme measures taken to keep things hidden on set. The first two seasons of that show are currently available to stream on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

Ewan McGregor must feel some major relief at the fact that he can now confirm his involvement in Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, you still shouldn’t expect him to say too much about the series, aside from a few questionable teases. With so much anticipation surrounding the upcoming Star Wars show, let’s hope McGregor’s return is well worth the wait.

Erik Swann
Senior Content Producer

Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. Covers superheroes, sci-fi, comedy, and almost anything else in film and TV. He eats more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.