Director Deborah Chow teases what kind of Darth Vader will be on Obi-Wan Kenobi in comparison to the iteration in A New Hope. Everybody is excited to see Ewan McGregor back in Star Wars as the beloved Jedi Master. But aside from him, Hayden Christensen will also be in the Obi-Wan Kenobi show as Darth Vader.
The upcoming Disney+ series will mark the first time both are returning to the space opera since wrapping up the prequel trilogy in the mid-2000s. Obi-Wan Kenobi is set 10 years after Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith and finds its titular character still in hiding while also quietly looking over a young Luke Skywalker. Meanwhile, the Galactic Empire sends in several minions to go hunt for Jedi who survived Order 66. It’s still uncertain how Darth Vader fits into the narrative, but it’s confirmed that he will go up against Obi-Wan in what Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy called the “rematch of the century.”
As the premiere date for Obi-Wan Kenobi nears, Disney has started its marketing campaign for the TV show. In EW‘s extensive cover for the series, Chow teases at what fans can expect from Vader’s appearance. While she can’t talk about spoiler details, she said that viewers should keep in mind that this iteration isn’t the “fully formed” Sith Lord that was in the original Star Wars film. Read her full quote below:
For us, it’s very similar [to Obi-Wan] in the sense that he’s in between these two trilogies. So he isn’t the New Hope Vader quite yet, you know what I mean? So we are with the character sort of in the middle of this period. It is still Vader obviously, but it’s a Vader that isn’t quite as fully formed as A New Hope.
If things went a little bit differently, however, Darth Vader wouldn’t be part of the new show. It’s no secret that the Obi-Wan Kenobi series has had different iterations. It was initially conceived as a film, but then, it was reworked to be a limited show on Disney+. Even after McGregor’s involvement was announced, the project continued to evolve, with a total narrative overhaul that included scrapping plans for a Darth Maul appearance. Kennedy has been vocal about having apprehensions regarding bringing back Darth Vader considering the pressure from viewers and the potential backlash if it isn’t executed properly. But as they developed the narrative, it became clear that it was the best time to properly feature the Sith Lord, played by Christensen.
Although Chow didn’t give any specific details about Darth Vader’s Obi-Wan Kenobi role, her answer informs viewers of the show’s take on the villain. Chances are that he still has some reservations about being Emperor Palpatine’s (Ian McDiarmid) right-hand man. And if the show delves deeper into his story, it might even reveal that he’s still haunted by the events of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. Whatever the case may be, fans are already looking forward to seeing the Sith Lord during this time via the Disney+ series.
Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on May 25 on Disney+.
Key Release Dates
Rogue Squadron
Release Date:2023-12-22
