Ewan McGregor is ready to return as Obi-Wan Kenobi and he is not hiding it. The actor publicly asked Disney to let him play the Jedi Master again, even though the Star Wars prequels faced harsh criticism when they first came out.
McGregor spoke at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 14, 2026. The event celebrated the 30th anniversary of Trainspotting, the movie that made him a star. During a 90-minute conversation, he talked about his career, his family, and his strong desire to return to a galaxy far, far away.
He did not hold back. He told the crowd he wants to spend the rest of his career telling Obi-Wan stories. He even said, “Come on, Disney!”.
The Prequels Were ‘Dragged Through the Mud’
McGregor played a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. The films came out between 1999 and 2005. At the time, critics and many fans did not like them.
The actor admitted that period was hard. He said the films were “dragged through the mud” by criticism. He recalled the moment he decided to take the role. He knew the job would be different from other acting work.
“I learned a lot about not giving a s***,” McGregor said, reflecting on the backlash.
He also shared why he thinks critics disliked the prequels. He told GQ UK that critics “wanted to feel like they were seven or eight again, and they didn’t get that”.
A Surprising Turn of Events
Even with the bad reviews, McGregor found something unexpected. He returned to the role in 2022 for the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. The show became the second most-watched streaming series of that year. It gathered 6.5 billion minutes viewed in the United States.
The actor said he was surprised by the warm reaction from fans. He admitted he never went to fan conventions after the prequel films. He thought people did not like them.
But the premiere of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series changed his mind. Thousands of fans showed up. He heard a loud cheer he had never experienced before.
“I had never heard that noise,” McGregor said about the fan reaction at the premiere.
He also found the role easier to play in the TV show. He explained that he tried “really hard” to be a young Alec Guinness in the prequels. In the series, he was closer to Guinness’s age when the original actor played Obi-Wan in the 1970s and 80s.
‘Come On, Disney!’ – McGregor Pushes for More
The actor is not waiting quietly. He is actively pushing Disney and Lucasfilm to make more content with his character.
In a recent interview with E! News, he made his position clear. He said, “I’m ready whenever they are”. He added that Disney “seem to not be ready”.
McGregor explained the story gap he wants to fill. At the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, he walks into the desert after leaving Luke Skywalker with his uncle and aunt. The next time audiences see Obi-Wan, he is much older and played by Alec Guinness in the original trilogy.
“What happens between those two moments is what I want to do and spend the rest of my career doing these stories,” McGregor said.
He also pointed out that he has time. He is currently 55 years old. Guinness was 65 when he played Obi-Wan in A New Hope. McGregor said, “I’ve got 10 years before I am Alec Guinness’ age”.
He told the audience he could see “a great story or two, or three, or four, or five” left to tell. He suggested this could be a series or movies.
Fans React to McGregor’s Comments
Star Wars fans have responded positively to McGregor’s openness. Many want to see him return to the role.
One fan commented on E! News’ Instagram clip, “The best part is, even if they do end up taking way too long, he can still play old Obi too”. Another fan wrote, “Next time we see him return as Obi-Wan, it better be a movie. Maybe 2 movies. Or 3?”.
A third fan expressed appreciation for his dedication: “To have him say he wants to make these for the rest of his life is amazing to hear as a fan”.
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What’s the Hold Up?
Lucasfilm has not officially announced a second season of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, stated in April 2023 that a second season was not in active development.
McGregor acknowledged this in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight. He said, “there seems to be no — I don’t know of any — progress in that direction”. Despite this, he remains hopeful. He believes “there’s got to be a few good stories left to tell”.
While a second season may not be coming soon, there is still a chance to see McGregor’s Obi-Wan again. The upcoming Ahsoka season 2 trailer, shown at D23, includes flashbacks to the Clone Wars era. Hayden Christensen is returning as Anakin Skywalker. This opens the door for McGregor to appear in flashback scenes as well.
The Ahsoka season 2 is set to release on January 20, 2027.
McGregor continues to promote his new movie, The End of Oak Street. But his mind is clearly on Star Wars. His message to Disney is simple and direct: he is ready, and he wants to do more.
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