The latest buzz surrounding the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV show stems from another problem rumor. After years of speculation, it was finally confirmed this past August that Ewan McGregor would play Obi-Wan again, reprising his Star Wars prequel trilogy role in a Disney+ miniseries. At one point, the project was conceived as a spinoff feature film, but it was reworked for the streaming service. Deborah Chow is helming the Obi-Wan show, on the heels of directing two of The Mandalorian’s most acclaimed episodes. Production is expected to begin over the summer.
In typical Lucasfilm fashion, much about the Obi-Wan show remains under wraps, other than its place in the Star Wars timeline and the belief it’ll feature a bearded Jar Jar Binks as a supporting character. Anticipation for Obi-Wan remains high, especially after fans saw Chow’s excellent work on The Mandalorian, so viewers are eager to learn more about the show and what’s in store. However, the latest word was Obi-Wan was in danger of never happening at all, but that fortunately isn’t true.
Today, unverifiable rumors purporting the Obi-Wan show was cancelled (or, at the very least, indefinitely delayed) made their way online. They appear to have originated from non-trade sites with questionable track records and have since been debunked. There were never any official reports implying Obi-Wan had been cancelled. Screen Rant contacted Disney, who declined to comment on this development.
This situation bears similarity to last week’s disproven rumors stating Marvel’s Hawkeye series for Disney+ was cancelled. That this happened again so quickly speaks to a larger problem plaguing the industry, where misinformation can spread rapidly online. It’s important for people to do their due diligence and check sources so they know if something is valid or not before they share it with others or write about it. If there were problems behind-the-scenes on Obi-Wan, word would have gotten out via proper channels (industry trades, etc.). In its Disney era, the Star Wars franchise has made plenty of unwanted headlines for production woes, so this wouldn’t have been any different. That no reputable outlet covered the cancellation rumor was a clue it was false.
And, it frankly isn’t surprising Obi-Wan is still happening. McGregor was actually attached to the project for years before it was publicly announced. The actor and the studio have long been committed to working together again, they just wanted to make sure they had something concretely ironed out before unveiling it. Ever since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, fans have wanted to see McGregor return to the Star Wars franchise in some capacity, and thankfully he still is. Of course, things can change down the road, but if they do, it’ll be reported by official industry trades who make sure their sources are accurate.
More: The Obi-Wan TV Show Makes More Sense After The Mandalorian
