Highlights
- Alec Guinness was hesitant to join Star Wars but ended up nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- Ewan McGregor took over the role in the prequel series, earning praise for his performance and now seen as the best Obi-Wan actor.
- McGregor’s enthusiasm and dedication to the character have breathed new life into Obi-Wan Kenobi and made him a fan favorite.
When Star Wars first debuted in 1977, it introduced audiences to Alec Guinness’ Obi-Wan Kenobi. The actor, who already had an impressive resume heading into a galaxy far, far away, was hesitant at first to join Star Wars, believing the film to be beneath him. To everyone’s surprise, however, the film would be a success and go on to launch a franchise. Eventually, it introduced a younger version of the character played by Ewan McGregor in a series of prequels.
The success of the first Star Wars film, later retitled Star Wars: A New Hope, was a surprise to everyone, especially Guinness. And while his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t long-lived, the character would receive new life thanks to McGregor, who continues to play the character. With the character’s long history within the franchise, we look back on each actor’s time as the Jedi Master, and which performance is better in the end.
Alec Guinness’ Time as Obi-Wan Kenobi
|
Appearances as Obi-Wan Kenobi |
Release Date |
|---|---|
|
Star Wars: A New Hope |
May 25, 1977 |
|
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back |
May 21, 1980 |
|
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi |
May 25, 1983 |
Alec Guinness is the original Obi-Wan Kenobi. He helped to craft the mysterious Jedi Master from the very beginning. As an established actor, Guinness brought a certain gravitas to the role. He made his turn as the Jedi Master believable, portraying a character who had a mysterious, yet powerful history behind him. It is worth noting, however, that the actor’s screentime as the iconic character was limited, appearing for less than a half-hour in the first film. Making the most of his screentime, Guinness managed to earn a nomination for an Academy Award in Star Wars: A New Hope, a feat yet to be accomplished again within the Star Wars universe.
With a mere twenty-three minutes on screen in A New Hope, Guinness delivers a heck of a turn as the Jedi Master, even in the character’s demise at the hands of Darth Vader — one of the most iconic scenes throughout the entire franchise to this date. The character’s death scene isn’t the most impressive of the actor’s work, though. It’s the early moments between Obi-Wan and Luke that showcase just how excellent of a casting choice the actor was for the Jedi Master. Guinness speaks of his past as a Jedi with such recollection, seeming to feel a sense of tranquility when discussing the past, not only with his words but also his actions. It’s in the small movements, and the way he draws viewers in, making them feel as though they’re experiencing his memories right alongside him. It’s a skilled performance, one that stands out among a cast of relative newcomers.
Unfortunately, though, the legendary actor never seemed too keen regarding the dialogue and overall storytelling in Star Wars. The legendary actor is said to have initially felt the dialogue in the script for Star Wars was “rubbish.” In fact, according to The Hollywood Reporter, while the actor at first wanted to write off the project, he made a counteroffer to 20th Century Fox that he would appear in the film if the studio raised his fee. He even went so far as to ask for the character’s death. Yet, despite his issues with the first film, the actor went on to return for both sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, appearing as a force ghost. Guinness’ relationship with Star Wars was complicated, but he did ultimately come around, even saying the story was gripping. In the end, though, while the renowned actor was the first to appear as the iconic character, his work as Obi-Wan seems to have been overshadowed by McGregor’s work later on.
Ewan McGregor’s Time as Obi-Wan Kenobi
|
Appearances as Obi-Wan Kenobi |
Release Date |
|---|---|
|
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace |
May 19, 1999 |
|
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones |
May 16, 2002 |
|
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith |
May 19, 2005 |
|
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (voice cameo) |
December 18, 2015 |
|
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+ Series) |
May 27, 2022 |
Ewan McGregor took over the role with the prequel series, where he sought to try to bridge the gap between his take on the iconic character and Guinness’ portrayal. It’s somewhat unfair to compare the two actors, as McGregor has gotten to portray the character for far longer. However, since first debuting as Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, McGregor has proven there’s plenty more to the popular character. Though the prequels were a sour note for most Star Wars fans when they were first released, fans seemed to agree that McGregor delivered an exciting performance as Obi-Wan. Although the prequels failed to capture the excitement of the original trilogy, fans still championed the potential return of McGregor as Obi-Wan.
For a long time, it was rumored that McGregor was going to headline an Obi-Wan movie. That project, of course, never came to fruition, but he would later go on to headline a Disney+ series as the Jedi Master. Ordered for a single season, the miniseries focused on the downfall and corruption of Obi-Wan’s former friend, Anakin Skywalker. It managed to earn an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics called the actor’s performance in the series “soulful.” It’s an exciting addition to the long-running franchise, and it gives fans a chance to watch McGregor cement his status as the best Obi-Wan actor. After fighting for so long to make his return as Obi-Wan Kenobi, McGregor gave everything he had in the character’s return. He delivered an award-worthy performance, even if the actor’s work wasn’t nominated for an Emmy.
In the end, McGregor is the best at playing Obi-Wan Kenobi. There’s a sense of appreciation that Guinness, despite being an excellent actor, is lacking in his portrayal. McGregor is clearly having a blast playing Obi-Wan, and his enthusiasm is evident in his performance. Although there’s no denying the late Guinness’ talent, McGregor has breathed new life into the character, and it’s hard not to notice. McGregor has shaped the character into his own for once and for all. His willingness to continue to return to the franchise and further expand upon the character’s backstory is exciting, and he’s done a wonderful job of helping to make the character one of the franchise’s most fascinating. Despite Guinness being a fantastic actor, his disdain for the franchise does detract a bit from his performance.
While Obi-Wan Kenobi’s story looks likely to only continued in animated projects (at least for now), there’s no denying the impactful performances delivered by both Guinness and McGregor. Both actors give it their all as the iconic Jedi Master. While McGregor has been able to delve further into the character’s backstory, Guinness delivers a noteworthy performance, too. Fans can revisit both the original film trilogy and the prequels on Disney+, along with the miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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