Will Ewan McGregor‘s wish finally come true? The actor has spent years saying he’d gladly return to play the wise Obi-Wan Kenobi should the opportunity ever arise, and perhaps that time is now. After lots of chatter and rumor mill churning, things are finally beginning to happen.
THR reports that development has started on a “Star Wars” spinoff movie focused on Obi-Wan Kenobi. The most surprising news is that Stephen Daldry (“Billy Elliot, “The Hours“) is in early talks to direct and oversee development on the movie. It’s a pointed move by Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy who has handed the reins of the last two spinoff movies to young talents in Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story“) and Phil Lord and Chris Miller (the upcoming Han Solo movie) only for both projects forced to undergo massive and costly reshoots (the latter has been taken over by another longtime Hollywood veteran in Ron Howard). The irony of course is that as experienced as Daldry is, he’s never directed a movie on this kind of blockbuster scale.
As for who will play Obi-Wan Kenobi, there’s no word yet if McGregor will reprise his role, or if the film will follow the path of the last two, and focus on pre-original saga stories. In fact, there’s not even a script yet. However, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that they break that tradition. And in case you’re wondering if those Boba Fett and Yoda movies are still on deck, the trade says Lucasfilm is still looking at them as possibilities.