Obi-Wan Kenobi star O’Shea Jackson Jr. explains what it was like to film with the Volume technology for the series. The story of Kenobi is set to take place ten years after the events of Revenge of the Sith and revolves around Obi-Wan Kenobi who has to deal with the aftermath of the downfall and corruption of his friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, after he transitions into the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. The series will consist of six episodes, all of which will be directed by Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian), and will premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2022.
Featuring the Star Wars character of the same name, the series that’s been long in the works will see Ewan McGregor reprise his role as the fan-favorite titular character from George Lucas’s prequel movie series, and he will be joined by a talented supporting cast that includes Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Verma, Rupert Friend, Sung Kang, Benny Safdie, and Hayden Christensen, who will return as Vader. The film will also see the return of Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse as their prequel characters Owen Lars and Beru Lars, respectively.
In a recent interview with Collider to discuss his upcoming AppleTV+ series Swagger, Jackson Jr. revealed what it was like to shoot scenes in Kenobi with the help of the Volume technology. He elaborated on how he lost himself in a scene, stating that “after a while, you forget that you’re just in this studio.” He also detailed the immersive nature of filming with the unique tech, describing it as “a crazy experience,” and even compared working in the studio to a certain scene from The Matrix series. His quote can be read below:
“What’s so crazy about The Volume is, you really forget. After a while, you forget that you’re just in this studio. The scariest part about it is when they turn it off. Because you’ll be sitting somewhere, some cave in the middle or whatever, you got background on the volume working around and you get so engulfed in the scene that when they turn it off and the entire room you’re in just goes white. It’s kind of like a Matrix moment, when he visits the architect. It was a crazy experience.”
The scene in question takes place in The Matrix Reloaded when Keanu Reeves’ Neo visits the Architect’s lair. The lair displays quite a few similarities to a film stage utilizing Volume tech as far as the design is concerned, so it’s no surprise to see where Jackson Jr. drew the comparison from. The use of this revolutionary technology (formerly known as Stagecraft) was first popularized by The Mandalorian, where nearly every scene with an alien planet, spaceship cockpit, or even interiors and exteriors were shot. The Straight Outta Compton actor also expressed that the availability of the technology “would’ve saved a lot of people back in the day,” calling it a “time-saver and a lifesaver.” He also conveyed that it “gives so much” to work with for the filmmakers and particularly the actors, who would usually “have to be playing pretend on a green screen.“
The visual effects of The Matrix were considered to be groundbreaking at the time of its release back in 1999 but Jackson Jr.’s comments ring true in the sense that the presence of the Volume technology would’ve drastically improved the appearance of the VFX even further, especially for the sequels which were quite heavily reliant on CGI. The creative team behind Kenobi has stuck with the innovative new technology to provide the desired results which clearly shows the importance of the Volume. The fact that its utilization makes it easier for the actors as well will ultimately reward the fans themselves and provide a rich viewing experience.
Key Release Dates
Rogue Squadron
Release Date:2023-12-22
