There are very few things from the Star Wars prequels that I want more of (actually maybe just one... Darth Maul). But reading the news today that Ewan McGregor would like to play Obi Wan Kenobi again didn't make me cringe. In fact I kind of like the idea.
For years I have always wondered what the heck George Lucas did to all of the those fine actors (Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel Jackson, and Jake Lloyd... ok not Jake Lloyd) in the prequel to make them forget how to act entirely. Did he use the Jedi mind trick? "You will forget all of your acting training and experience. You will be terrible."
I actually have another theory. For years, Carrie Fisher had told the story that on the first day of filming Star Wars, George Lucas approached her and told her she could not wear a bra under her dress. When Fisher asked why, Lucas convinced her that "... there's no underwear in space." You can check out her full quote about that story here.
Well I am convinced that on the first day of filming Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Lucas approached his cast and said, "There are no emotions in space. Your motivation is a block of wood. Try to be as stiff and wooden as possible." And it worked!!!!
It's not the costume and the makeup. George told me to be this stiff.
Ewan McGregor is a fine actor. I loved him in Trainspotting. I also enjoyed him in movies like Blackhawk Down and Big Fish. He Can act... when Lucas isn't involved.
Obviously, I am all for any Star Wars project this new creative team is willing to produce. I bet a lot of cool things happened to Obi Wan while he was hiding on Tatooine. In fact on this week's episode of Rebels he fought Darth Maul. I'm sure they could write some exciting stories centered around Old Ben secretly protecting Luke Skywalker. I would like to see these stories on the big screen.
The main reason I'd like to see Ewan McGregor reprise the role is that it would be yet another connection to my son. To my 12 year old boy, Ewan McGregor is Obi Wan Kenobi. It would be cool to sit next to Timmy and watch a continuation of this amazing character's adventures.
Oh wait I thought of one more thing connected to the prequels that I would watch...
Jar Jar Binks death scenes for 90 minutes straight!
