Ewan McGregor reviewed previous films and read sci-fi novels, while Hayden Christensen watched Rebels and The Clone Wars as preparation for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. Actors tend to do a lot of activities to prepare for their characters. In most cases, once a script arrives, they develop the subtexts as basis on how to deliver the lines. Most of the time, these subtexts are also the source of their character’s mannerisms, movement and overall personality.
EW tells about the two actors’ preparations to get back into the world of Star Wars for the upcoming Disney Plus series.
For characters that already have existing references, actors naturally do the deep dive pouring over tons of reading and the like. Included in the study may be watching a related movie, stage play or in Anakin and Obi-Wan’s case, animated series. The actor needs all the background resource they can get to truly embody the character they will soon play. This even if they have portrayed the character before.
What Hayden Christensen And Ewan McGregor Did To Prepare For Obi-Wan Kenobi Series
Image: Lucasfilm
After all those studies, they then become the characters once the cameras are filming.
Years after their first portrayal of their respective roles, there could be a different delivery or version in the actor’s mind. Especially for McGregor and Christensen, they may have forgotten who Obi-Wan or Anakin/Vader are in the personality sense. Picking up where they left off will not also fit the upcoming series because, the timeline is different. Obi-Wan Kenobi Series for Disney Plus sets about ten years after Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
Both characters will have lingering emotions from that last momentous duel in Mustafar. Queue Duel of the Fates.
Ewan McGregor shares he watched all 9 episodes of the Star Wars saga, saying:
I watched them from start to finish. All nine movies. Just to get back in that world. It was interesting to watch our films because I hadn’t seen them since they came out, not at all. So it was cool to see and interesting to watch them and enjoy them without all of the noise that was around when they came out.
I started reading science fiction. Iain M. Banks is a Scottish writer, and I started reading his science-fiction novels. I kind of didn’t do it the first [time]. I did absolutely study Alec Guinness and watched the original three Star Wars films when we did the first one, but I didn’t really think about the genre. And it’s not something I would normally do, but this time I did. I got jazzed about being back in space because I really love it as a movie watcher.
What Hayden Christensen And Ewan McGregor Did To Prepare For Obi-Wan Kenobi Series
Image: Lucasfilm
As for Hayden Christensen, he went further from re-watching all the films, he says
I went back and rewatched all the films. And I also got into the animated shows, The Clone Wars and Rebels.
It was interesting. They did a lot with these characters in those shows. And they did further explore the relationship. There was interesting stuff there to learn about. It was great fun getting to go back and re-immerse yourself in this world that just continues to grow and become more and more vast.
Watching the animated series would be the best choice in preparation for the Darth Vader that will be in Obi-Wan Kenobi Series. The animated series showcased a lot of meaningful connections and relationships as well as hardships for Anakin. Moments that the actor can draw from when he becomes Darth Vader again.
Obi-Wan Kenobi begins on May 27 only on Disney Plus.
