Careful what you wish for — Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan comeback would deepen Star Wars’ biggest headache

Let’s talk about the ongoing Obi-Wan Kenobi saga and why Ewan McGregor really can’t seem to let the Jedi robe go. Yes, McGregor is still at it—he spent some time at the Edinburgh International Film Festival bending the ear of Lucasfilm, pitching new stories for Obi-Wan. If you thought the six-episode Disney+ series was the end of it, apparently no one gave Ewan the memo.

He told Variety he’s keen for more, and even has specific plot ideas in mind. The main pitch is Obi-Wan trying to reconnect with Yoda after the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, when all the surviving Jedi vanished off to the far ends of the galaxy. This wasn’t exactly a formal presentation—more a suggestion over a chat with Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni, but still, you get the feeling McGregor’s genuinely hoping someone at Lucasfilm bites. Here’s how he put it when chatting to Variety at the festival:

‘It was very casual, but I said there’s got to be something. Because Yoda’s somewhere else. After the end of Episode III, when we all go to the four or five corners of the galaxy—or however many corners it’s got—I won’t have been in touch with him. But he’s out there. So I think there could be a story there where I’m trying to reach out to him.’

That’s not even the oddest pitch. McGregor also pondered a Star Wars storyline starring himself alongside his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who you’ll know as Hera in Ahsoka. Now Ewan figuring there could be a great ‘Obi-Wan and Hera’ romance is quite the leap, especially since the two characters exist in completely different Star Wars timelines. He seems self-aware enough to realise this, but apparently couldn’t resist throwing the idea out there anyway.

But here’s where it gets sticky. Lucasfilm may well entertain these pitches—at least politely—but it really is time to step off the nostalgia treadmill. McGregor already got his second go-round in 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series, a run that more or less gave the character closure. If you count the prequel films and all his voice cameos, the man’s more than earned his Star Wars stripes. Yes, technically, they could shoehorn him into another spinoff, but honestly, should they?

Next year will mark 50 years since A New Hope, and Lucasfilm is still telling stories connected to the Skywalkers.

This is really the heart of it: Star Wars has been recycling Skywalker-adjacent arcs for nearly half a century. For an entire generation of fans, that worked because you could grow up alongside Luke, Anakin, and yes, Obi-Wan. But for younger viewers now, it’s just ancient history. The franchise is desperate for fresh blood—stories and characters today’s kids can actually care about for themselves, not through the lens of their parents’ fandom.

So yes, Lucasfilm needs to push boundaries, which is partly why a lot of eyes are (cautiously) hopeful about Star Wars: Starfighter. It promises a clean break from the usual set of familiar faces—new heroes, original plot. Even if it tanks, at least it’s an attempt to do something that isn’t simply more Tatooine sand. After recent disappointments like The Mandalorian and Grogu, it’s clear the old formula’s wearing thin.

Star Wars: Starfighter is aiming for all-new characters and a story untethered from the Skywalker saga.

All credit to McGregor for his enthusiasm—and for making Obi-Wan an icon for at least two generations. But if Lucasfilm knows what’s good for the future of Star Wars, they’ll thank him for his service and move forward at last.