While we've heard that an earlier take on Obi-Wan Kenobi was set to pit the Jedi Master against Maul, plans eventually changed and the focus shifted to a different villain. With it becoming apparent that the project's original premise was a little too close to what we've seen in The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm went back to the drawing board and decided it would make more sense to focus on Darth Vader.
According to Vanity Fair (via SFFGazette.com), this route was locked in during March 2020, with director and showrunner Deborah Chow instrumental in the decision making process. So, why Vader after we already got to see his clash with "Ben" Kenobi in A New Hope?
The filmmaker's reasoning for pitting these allies turned enemies against each other might surprise you. "For me, across the prequels, through the original trilogy, there’s a love-story dynamic with these two that goes through the whole thing," Chow explains. "I felt like it was quite hard to not [include] the person who left Kenobi in such anguish in the series."
For the director, the idea that Obi-Wan might still care about Anakin - rather than harbouring disdain for his former ally and the man who helped destroy the Jedi Order - was key. "I don’t know how you could not. I don’t think he ever will not care about him. What’s special about that relationship is that they loved each other." Looking back at the prequels, Chow is spot on here.
We're curious to see how this will be addressed in the show, particularly as Obi-Wan Kenobi will mark the first time the Jedi Master has crossed paths with Anakin since he was transformed into Darth Vader. Needless to say, seeing his reaction to the Sith Lord promises to be an exciting moment.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is set to premiere on Disney+ with its first two episodes on May 27.
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