5 Characters You Need to Know Before Watching ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’

With Obi-Wan Kenobi’s long-awaited series finally premiering on Disney+, it’s about time to take a look back on his story, and the others in the series.

 

Here’s all you need to know about Obi-Wan Kenobi, and all the other new and familiar faces of the upcoming series!

Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Ewan McGregor. Photo: Lucasfilm

1. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Before he was the legendary Jedi Knight who trained both Anakin and Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan was a Padawan learning under his mentor Qui Gon Jinn. Obi Wan’s first on-screen appearance was in the original trilogy (Episode IV: A New HopeEpisode V: The Empire Strikes BackEpisode VI: Return Of The Jedi), where he begins Luke’s training in the ways of the force. We learn of his history with Anakin in the prequel trilogy (Episode I: The Phantom MenaceEpisode II: Attack Of The ClonesEpisode III: Revenge Of The Sith).

Obi-Wan Kenobi picks up between both the original and prequel trilogies after Obi-Wan and Anakin have gone their separate ways, but before he meets Luke. It’s a point in the Star Wars universe that we don’t know that much about, and we hope you’re just as excited to catch up with them on May 27!

Darth Vader, played by Hayden Christensen. Photo: Lucasfilm

2. Darth Vader aka Anakin Skywalker

Darth Vader may not feature much in the prequel, but his dark presence looms over the three films, which cover his origin story from promising young Jedi to face of the Empire. Anakin marries Padmé Amidala in these movies, which is at odds with the Jedi Orders’ mandate against forming attachments, as they lead to the Dark Side. This rings true for Anakin, who is finally seduced away from the light by Chancellor Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is set during Anakin’s early years as Vader, and while we don’t know exactly what role the character plays in the new series, we certainly know he’s still not a hero this time.

The Grand Inquisitor played by Rupert Friend. Photo: Lucasfilm

3. The Inquisitors

Having not made their debut on Star Wars movie screens, many might not be familiar with this mysterious organisation known as the Inquisitors unless you’ve explored the outer rims of the galaxy (after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars). These imposing figures are former Jedi who defected to the Dark Side, and now hunt what’s left of their previous comrades after Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

In the Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer, we meet three Inquisitors. The first is the Grand Inquisitor, the leader of this unnerving group, who was once a former Jedi temple guard, and even a Jedi Knight. The second Inquisitor we meet is known as the Fifth Brother, and fans of the animated series Star Wars: Rebels may already be familiar with him. We won’t spoil it but, his story in the animated series involves not one but two prominent members of the Sith! Get a head start by watching the Third Brother in Star Wars: Rebels while you wait for the latest series to premiere – we know that’s what we’ll be doing!

The last but certainly not the least Inquisitor we see in the trailer is…

Reva played by Moses Ingram. Photo: Lucasfilm

4. Reva aka The Third Sister

When Jedi forsake the light side to become Inquisitors, they are expected to forsake their names – one could say they are giving up their identity and individuality – and instead take on generic titles like ‘Brother’ and ‘Sister’.

What’s particularly interesting about the Third Sister is that unlike the rest of the Inquisitors, she does have a name. What exactly does this mean? We don’t know yet. All the more reason to catch Obi-Wan Kenobi when it comes out!

Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Photo: Lucasfilm

5. Owen Lars

In the movies, Owen Lars isn’t a major character at all. In fact, he plays a very minor part. But Owen occupies a very important role in the Star Wars universe: it is his and his wife Beru’s death that serves as the catalyst for Luke leaving Tattooine to train with Obi-Wan. After all, they were Luke’s aunt and uncle, as we see in Episode IV: A New Hope.

Owen is also seen in Episode II: Attack Of The Clones when Anakin returns to his home planet of Tattooine to find his mother, Shmi. Instead, Anakin finds a family he never knew he had, including a new step-brother in Owen.

We don’t see much more of Owen in the prequels, but the character in the original trilogy seems to disapprove of Obi-Wan, a trait that carries over into the new series, as seen by Owen’s fraught conversation with the Jedi Knight in the trailer. But Obi-Wan was the one who put the infant Luke in Owen and Beru’s care, so how did their relationship become so sour?

That’s just one of many, many questions we hope get answered in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the only way to attain those answers is to watch the new series when it premieres on Disney+ on May 27!

If you’re looking to celebrate the return of the iconic Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi with something special, head down to the car park at Block 814 Jellicoe Road on May 27 at 8pm for a surprise that’s out of this world.