Variety (via SFFGazette.com) confirms that Obi-Wan Kenobi will not be eligible to compete at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. Star Ewan McGregor won an award for "Best Lead Actor In A Limited Series" for his role in Halston last year, but he'll have to wait to be recognised again until 2023's ceremony.
With the first two episodes premiering on Disney+ on May 27, all six chapters won't be available in time for voters in the Television Academy to watch them and take the series into consideration.
With a cut off date of May 31, there's simply not enough time for Obi-Wan Kenobi to be considered. While it would, of course, be advantageous for the series to be fresh in the minds of voters, Lucasfilm won't want to present unfinished episodes or risk spoilers leaking for the sake of rushing it into this year's awards ceremony (there's nothing to say it would ultimately even make the cut).
The trade notes that "it’s not yet known (publicly) if 'Obi-Wan' will be an ongoing story or a one-off limited narrative. You can never know with these types of shows and how well they will perform for streaming services. There’s a chance the show decides to go the route of 'The Mandalorian' or to end the Jedi master’s saga here." In other words, Lucasfilm may be undecided over whether to submit Obi-Wan Kenobi as an ongoing or limited series on the off chance we get a second season.
While we're not anticipating another meeting between "Ben" Kenobi and Darth Vader prior to the events of A New Hope, there are bound to be other stories that could be told featuring the Jedi Master. Then again, it might be wise not to milk the character too much; we'll have to wait and see for now.
Are you excited for Obi-Wan Kenobi's Disney+ premiere later this month?