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Obi-Wan Kenobi () is a
fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a traditi ...
al
character Character or Characters may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk * ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...
in the ''
Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'' franchise. Within the
original trilogy The original ''Star Wars'' trilogy, formerly marketed as the ''Star Wars'' Trilogy (and colloquially referred to as the 'original trilogy'), is the first set of three films produced in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, an American space opera cre ...
, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master as a supporting character and is portrayed by English actor
Alec Guinness Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. After an early career on the stage, Guinness was featured in several of the Ealing comedies, including ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (194 ...
. In the later-released
prequel trilogy The ''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy, colloquially referred to as the prequels, is a series of epic space-opera films written and directed by George Lucas. It was produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The trilogy was re ...
, a younger version of the character serves as one of the two main
protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
s, alongside
Anakin Skywalker Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
, and is portrayed by Scottish actor Ewan McGregor. In the original trilogy he is introduced as Ben Kenobi, an alias he uses while in hiding from the
Empire An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
. He is a mentor to Luke Skywalker, to whom he introduces the ways of the
Jedi Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are the main heroic protagonists of many works of the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, and later supporting the Rebel Alliance, the Jedi O ...
. After sacrificing himself in a duel against Darth Vader, Obi-Wan guides Luke through the Force in his fight against the
Galactic Empire Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of s ...
. In the prequel trilogy, set two decades earlier, he is initially a Padawan (apprentice) to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and later mentor and friend of Luke's father Anakin, who falls to the
dark side of the Force The Force is a metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the '' Star Wars'' fictional universe. "Force-sensitive" characters use the Force throughout the franchise. Heroes like the Jedi seek to "become one with the Force", matching their personal wi ...
and becomes Vader. The character briefly appears in the
sequel trilogy The ''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy is the third trilogy of the main ''Star Wars'' franchise, an American space opera created by George Lucas. It is produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The trilogy ...
as a disembodied voice, speaking to protagonist
Rey Rey may refer to: *Rey (given name), a given name *Rey (surname), a surname * Rey (''Star Wars''), a character in the ''Star Wars'' films * Rey, Iran, a city in Iran * Ray County, in Tehran Province of Iran * ''Rey'' (film), a 2015 Indian film *The ...
. He is frequently featured as a main character in various other ''Star Wars'' media, including the streaming television
miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...
''
Obi-Wan Kenobi Obi-Wan Kenobi () is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Within the Star Wars original trilogy, original trilogy, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master as a supporting character and is portrayed by English actor Alec Guinn ...
'', in which McGregor reprised the role. Guinness' performance as Obi-Wan in the original ''Star Wars'' (1977) earned him a nomination for the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role while worki ...
, the only acting nomination for a ''Star Wars'' film. McGregor's performance as the character in the prequels received praise as well, considered to be among the highlights of the trilogy. Guinness won the
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor The following is a list of Saturn Award winners and nominees for Best Supporting Actor (in a film). Burgess Meredith, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are the only actors that have won the award twice, while only Javier Bardem and Heath Ledger ...
for his performance in ''A New Hope'', while McGregor was nominated for the same category 20 years later for his performance in ''The Phantom Menace.''


Creation and development

The character is loosely inspired by General Makabe Rokurōta, a character from Akira Kurosawa's film ''
The Hidden Fortress is a 1958 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' adventure film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It tells the story of two peasants who agree to escort a man and a woman across enemy lines in return for gold without knowing that he is a general and the woman is a pri ...
'', played by
Toshiro Mifune was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 150 feature films. He is best known for his 16-film collaboration (1948–1965) with Akira Kurosawa in such works as ''Rashomon'', ''Seven Samurai'', ''The Hidden Fortress'', ''Throne of Blood'', and '' ...
(whom franchise creator
George Lucas George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...
had originally wanted to cast as Obi-Wan). In an early draft of the original ''Star Wars'' film, Obi-Wan's first meeting with Luke Skywalker is lifted directly from '' The Hobbit'', acknowledging Gandalf as a source of inspiration. Lucas originally planned for Obi-Wan to live through the original film, but found that the character had nothing to do during the culminating battle sequence. Lucas later reflected that he felt that "It would be much more powerful, satisfying and interesting if Darth Vader were to kill him and he were to go on to a different form."


Appearances


Skywalker saga


Original trilogy (1977–1983)

Obi-Wan Kenobi is introduced in the original ''Star Wars'' film living as a 57-year old
hermit A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions. Description In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Ch ...
under the name of Ben Kenobi on the planet
Tatooine Tatooine () is a fictional desert planet that appears in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. It is a beige-colored, desolate world orbiting a pair of binary stars, and inhabited by human settlers and a variety of other life forms. The planet was first ...
. When Luke Skywalker (
Mark Hamill Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards f ...
) and C-3PO (
Anthony Daniels Anthony Daniels ( ; born 21 February 1946) is an English actor and mime artist, best known for playing in 10 ''Star Wars'' films. He is the only actor to have either appeared in or been involved with all theatrical films in the series, and h ...
) travel the desert in search of the lost R2-D2 ( Kenny Baker), Obi-Wan rescues them from a band of
Tusken Raider Tusken Raiders (informally referred to as "Sand People") are fictional creatures in the '' Star Wars'' universe created by George Lucas. They are characterized as a nomadic race who live on the planet Tatooine. They first appeared in the 1977 fi ...
s. At Obi-Wan's home, the now-found R2-D2 plays a recording of
Princess Leia Princess Leia Organa is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, portrayed in films by Carrie Fisher. Introduced in the Star Wars (film), original ''Star Wars'' film in 1977, Leia is princess of th ...
( Carrie Fisher) saying that R2-D2 contains the plans for the Galactic Empire's superweapon, the Death Star. Leia asks him to deliver R2-D2 and the plans safely to her home planet of
Alderaan Alderaan () is a fictional planet featured in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. It is blue-green in appearance, depicted as a terrestrial planet with humanoid inhabitants, and characterized by a peaceful culture. It is the home planet of Princess Lei ...
in order to help the Rebel Alliance. Obi-Wan reveals to Luke his secret identity and explains that he is a
Jedi Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are the main heroic protagonists of many works of the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, and later supporting the Rebel Alliance, the Jedi O ...
, a member of an ancient group of
Force In physics, a force is an influence that can change the motion of an object. A force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (e.g. moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate. Force can also be described intuitively as a p ...
-sensitive warriors. He explains that the Jedi were hunted down and exterminated by the Empire with help from his former apprentice, Darth Vader (portrayed by David Prowse, voiced by
James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in America ...
), the apparent killer of Luke's father. He gives Luke his father's
lightsaber A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout the ''Star Wars'' franchise. A typical lightsaber is depicted as a luminescent plasma blade about in length emitted from a metal hilt around in length. First introduced in the or ...
and asks him to accompany him to Alderaan and take up Jedi training. Luke, at first, declines; but after finding that his aunt Beru (
Shelagh Fraser Sheila Mary Fraser (25 November 1920 – 29 August 2000) was an English actress. She is best known for her roles in the television serial ''A Family at War'' (1970–1971) and as Luke Skywalker's aunt Beru in ''Star Wars'' (1977). Early life She ...
) and uncle
Owen Owen may refer to: Origin: The name Owen is of Irish and Welsh origin. Its meanings range from noble, youthful, and well-born. Gender: Owen is historically the masculine form of the name. Popular feminine variations include Eowyn and Owena. ...
( Phil Brown) have been killed by Imperial stormtroopers, he decides to go with Obi-Wan to Alderaan and train as a Jedi. At the settlement of
Mos Eisley Mos Eisley is a spaceport town in the fictional ''Star Wars'' universe. Located on the planet Tatooine, it first appeared in the 1977 film ''Star Wars'', described by the character Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Alec Guinness) as a "wretched hive of s ...
, Obi-Wan uses the Force to trick Imperial troops into letting them through a military checkpoint. They enter a local cantina and meet smugglers
Han Solo Han Solo is a fictional character in the '' Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. The character first appeared in the 1977 film '' Star Wars'' portrayed by Harrison Ford, who reprised his role in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) an ...
(
Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...
) and
Chewbacca Chewbacca ( ), nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a Wookiee, a tall, hirsute, bipedal, intelligent species originating from the fictional planet of Kashyyyk. Chewbacca is the loyal friend and firs ...
( Peter Mayhew). Obi-Wan and Luke make a deal to travel to Alderaan aboard Han's ship, the ''
Millennium Falcon The ''Millennium Falcon'' is a fictional starship in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Designed by Joe Johnston for the movie ''Star Wars'' (1977), it has subsequently appeared in '' The Star Wars Holiday Special'' (1978), ''The Empire Strikes Back ...
''. During the mission, Obi-Wan begins instructing Luke in
lightsaber combat A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout the ''Star Wars'' franchise. A typical lightsaber is depicted as a luminescent plasma blade about in length emitted from a metal hilt around in length. First introduced in the Star ...
. He suddenly feels "a great disturbance in the Force", and when the ship comes out of
light speed The speed of light in vacuum, commonly denoted , is a universal physical constant that is important in many areas of physics. The speed of light is exactly equal to ). According to the special relativity, special theory of relativity, is ...
, he and the others find that the Empire has destroyed Alderaan. The ''Falcon'' then encounters an Imperial TIE Fighter. They chase the TIE fighter to the Death Star, and subsequently get caught in the space station's tractor beam. On board the Death Star, Obi-Wan ventures through and disables the tractor beam. Moments later, Vader confronts him, and they engage in a lightsaber duel. Obi-Wan uses the duel to distract Vader as Luke, Leia, Han and Chewbacca escape to the ''Falcon''. Obi-Wan allows Vader to strike him down, and his body mysteriously vanishes the moment he dies. At the climax of the film, during the Rebel attack on the Death Star, Obi-Wan speaks to Luke through the Force to help him destroy the Imperial station. In '' The Empire Strikes Back'', Obi-Wan Kenobi appears several times as a spirit through the Force. On the ice planet Hoth, he appears to instruct Luke to go to the planet Dagobah to find the exiled Jedi Master Yoda ( Frank Oz). Despite Yoda's skepticism, Obi-Wan convinces his former teacher to continue Luke's training. Obi-Wan appears later to beseech Luke not to leave Dagobah to try to rescue his friends on Cloud City, although Luke ignores this advice. In '' Return of the Jedi'', Obi-Wan again appears to Luke after Yoda's death on Dagobah. Obi-Wan acknowledges that Darth Vader is indeed Luke's father, revealed by Vader himself in the previous film and confirmed by Yoda on his deathbed, and also reveals that Leia is Luke's twin sister. He urges Luke to confront and defeat Vader. After the Rebels destroy the second Death Star and defeat the Empire, Obi-Wan appears at the celebration on
Endor Endor or Ein Dor may refer to: Places * Endor (village), from the Hebrew Bible, a Canaanite village where the Witch of Endor lived * Indur, a Palestinian village depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war * Ein Dor, a Kibbutz in modern Israel Fi ...
, alongside the Force ghosts of Yoda and the redeemed Anakin Skywalker ( Sebastian Shaw; in later re-releases, Shaw is replaced by Hayden Christensen).


Prequel trilogy (1999–2005)

In ''
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace ''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' is a 1999 American Epic film, epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ahmed Best, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Dan ...
'', set 32 years before ''A New Hope'', a 25-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi appears as the Padawan apprentice of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (
Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on ''The I ...
). He accompanies his master in negotiations with the corrupt
Trade Federation Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct excha ...
, which is blockading the planet Naboo with a fleet of spaceships. They fight a swarm of battle droids and stow away on a landing craft en route to Naboo. Once on Naboo, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon rescue Naboo's 14-year-old Queen Padmé Amidala (
Natalie Portman Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag, he, נטע-לי הרשלג, ) is an Israeli-born American actress. She has had a prolific film career since her teenage years and has starred in various blockbusters and independent films, receiving mu ...
), with help from native Gungan
Jar Jar Binks Jar Jar Binks is a fictional character of the Gungan race from the ''Star Wars'' saga created by George Lucas. Jar Jar appears throughout the ''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy – as a major character in '' Episode I: The Phantom Menace'', with a ...
(
Ahmed Best Ahmed Best (born August 19, 1973) is an American actor, comedian and musician. He is known for providing motion capture and the voice of the character of Jar Jar Binks in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Best likewise collaborated with director Geor ...
), and escape in a spaceship toward the
Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
capital of Coruscant. Their ship is damaged in the escape, causing the hyperdrive generator to malfunction, and they land on Tatooine, where they discover the nine-year-old slave
Anakin Skywalker Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
(
Jake Lloyd Jake Matthew Lloyd (born March 5, 1989), also known as Jake Broadbent, is an American former actor who portrayed young Anakin Skywalker in the 1999 film '' Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' and Jamie Langston in ''Jingle All the Way'' ...
). Qui-Gon believes the boy is the " Chosen One" prophesied to bring balance to the Force. Anakin joins the group as they travel to Coruscant. While leaving Tatooine, they are attacked by Darth Maul (portrayed by Ray Park, voiced by
Peter Serafinowicz Peter Szymon Serafinowicz ( ; born 10 July 1972) is an English actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, best known for his roles as the title character in the 2016 live-action series of ''The Tick'', Pete in ''Shaun of the Dead'' (2004) and ...
), a member of the Sith, a cult of the dark side long thought to be extinct. When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan return to Naboo to defeat the Trade Federation, they are met again by Maul, who engages them both in lightsaber combat. When Maul mortally wounds Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan storms in to duel the Sith lord, who nearly kills him. However, Obi-Wan manages to turn the tables and defeat Maul, cutting him in half. He promises to fulfill Qui-Gon's dying wish to train Anakin as a Jedi, with or without the council's blessing. Yoda proclaims Obi-Wan a Jedi Knight and reluctantly allows him to take Anakin on as his own Padawan. In ''
Attack of the Clones Attack may refer to: Warfare and combat * Offensive (military) * Charge (warfare) * Attack (fencing) * Strike (attack) * Attack (computing) * Attack aircraft Books and publishing * ''The Attack'' (novel), a book * '' Attack No. 1'', comic ...
'', set 10 years later, Obi-Wan is now a respected Jedi Knight and the master of Anakin Skywalker ( Hayden Christensen). Over the years, Anakin has grown powerful but arrogant, and believes that Obi-Wan is "holding him back". After they save Padmé, now a senator, from an assassination attempt, Obi-Wan goes on a solo mission to trace the would-be assassins involved to the planet Kamino. He learns of a massive clone army that the planet's inhabitants are building for the Republic. The clones' template is bounty hunter
Jango Fett Jango Fett is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, created by George Lucas. He first appeared as an antagonist in the 2002 film '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'', played by Temuera Morrison. The character is a ...
(
Temuera Morrison Temuera Derek Morrison (born 26 December 1960) is a New Zealand actor and Singer who first gained recognition for his role as Dr. Hone Ropata on the soap opera ''Shortland Street''. He gained critical acclaim for his starring role as Jake "The ...
), and he and Obi-Wan battle once the latter deduces Fett must be behind the attempted assassination. Fett escapes to the planet
Geonosis The fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney ...
with his clone son Boba ( Daniel Logan), unaware that Obi-Wan has pursued them. On Geonosis, Obi-Wan discovers that a
conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agree ...
of star systems bent on revolution from the Republic is led by Jedi-turned-Sith Lord
Count Dooku Count Dooku of Serenno, also known by his Sith, Sith name Darth Tyranus, or simply as Count Dooku, is a fictional Character (arts), character in the Star Wars, ''Star Wars'' franchise, created by George Lucas. One of the main antagonists of the St ...
(
Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...
), Qui-Gon's old master. After sending a message to Anakin, Obi-Wan is captured, interrogated, and sentenced to death by Dooku. Anakin and Padmé arrive with a cadre of Jedi and the clone army, just in time to prevent the executions. Obi-Wan and Anakin confront Dooku, but the Sith Lord overpowers them both. Yoda intervenes and saves their lives, at the cost of Dooku's escape. In ''
Revenge of the Sith Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." Pr ...
'', set three years later, Obi-Wan is now a Jedi Master and a member of the Jedi Council, as well as a General in the Grand Army of the Republic. Anakin, by now a Jedi Knight, remains Obi-Wan's partner, and the two have become war heroes and best friends. The film opens with the two on a rescue mission to save the kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (
Ian McDiarmid Ian McDiarmid (; born 11 August 1944) is a Scottish actor and director of stage and screen, best known for portraying the Sith Lord Emperor Sheev Palpatine / Darth Sidious in the ''Star Wars'' multimedia franchise. Making his stage debut in '' ...
) from cyborg Separatist commander
General Grievous General Grievous is a character and antagonist in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Grievous was introduced in the 2003 animated series '' Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (voiced by John DiMaggio in the second season and Richard McGo ...
( Matthew Wood) on board his cruiser. Dooku duels the Jedi once again, knocking Obi-Wan unconscious; while Obi-Wan is out cold, Anakin defeats Dooku and kills him in cold blood on Palpatine's orders. Soon after returning to Coruscant, Obi-Wan travels to planet Utapau to track down Grievous. After finding the Separatist encampment, Obi-Wan fights Grievous and kills him with Grievous' own blaster. When Palpatine—who is secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious and the mastermind of the war—issues Order 66 to have the clone troopers turn on the Jedi, Obi-Wan survives the attempt on his life and escapes, rendezvousing with Yoda and Senator
Bail Organa This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
(
Jimmy Smits Jimmy L. Smits (born July 9, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for playing attorney Victor Sifuentes on the 1980s-1990s legal drama ''L.A. Law'', NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the 1990s-2000s police drama '' NYPD Blue'', Matt Santos ...
) of Alderaan aboard Organa's ship, ''Tantive III''. Returning to Coruscant, he and Yoda discover that every Jedi in the Jedi Temple has been murdered. After sending a beacon to all surviving Jedi to scatter across the galaxy and remain in hiding, a heartbroken Obi-Wan watches security footage revealing that it was Anakin—who is now Sidious' Sith apprentice, Darth Vader—who led the chaos. Yoda says that he will confront Sidious, and he charges Obi-Wan with battling Vader. Obi-Wan is loath to fight his best friend, but reluctantly accepts when Yoda says that Anakin Skywalker no longer exists, having been “consumed” by Vader. Obi-Wan visits Padmé to question of Vader's whereabouts, and realizes that Vader is her husband and the father of her unborn child. When Padmé sets out to the volcanic planet
Mustafar Mustafar () is a fictional volcanic and lava planet in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Introduced in the final prequel film, ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005), it also appeared in the films ''Rogue One'' (2016) and ''Episode IX – The Rise of Skywal ...
to confront her husband herself, Obi-Wan secretly stows away aboard her ship. After they arrive on Mustafar, Obi-Wan reveals himself and confronts Vader, who accuses Padmé and Obi-Wan of conspiring against him and uses the dark side to choke Padmé into unconsciousness. A long and ferocious lightsaber duel occurs between Obi-Wan and Vader, ending with Obi-Wan severing Vader's legs and left arm. Obi-Wan watches in horror as Vader slides too close to a lava flow and catches fire; he then takes his former friend's lightsaber and leaves him to die. Unbeknownst to Obi-Wan, Vader is rescued by Sidious moments later and reconstructed into the cyborg as first seen in the original trilogy. Obi-Wan takes Padmé to the
asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...
Polis Massa, where she dies after giving birth to twins Luke and Leia. Afterwards, Obi-Wan assists in hiding Luke and Leia from the Empire. While Leia is adopted by Bail Organa and his wife, Yoda instructs Obi-Wan to deliver Luke to Anakin's stepbrother
Owen Lars This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
( Joel Edgerton) and his wife Beru (
Bonnie Piesse Bonnie Piesse (born 10 August 1983) is an Australian actress and singer. Her breakthrough role was playing a trapeze artist in the Australian children's television series ''High Flyers'' at the age of 15 and not long after that she was scouted ...
) on Tatooine. Yoda then reveals that Qui-Gon's spirit will teach them both to become one with the Force after death. On Tatooine, Obi-Wan hands Luke off to his step-family and goes into exile to watch over the boy and wait until the time is right to challenge Sidious and the newly-created
Galactic Empire Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of s ...
.


Sequel trilogy (2015–2019)

In ''
The Force Awakens ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens'') is a 2015 American epic space opera film produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. The sequel to ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983) ...
'', set 30 years after ''Return of the Jedi'', the protagonist
Rey Rey may refer to: *Rey (given name), a given name *Rey (surname), a surname * Rey (''Star Wars''), a character in the ''Star Wars'' films * Rey, Iran, a city in Iran * Ray County, in Tehran Province of Iran * ''Rey'' (film), a 2015 Indian film *The ...
(Daisy Ridley) hears Obi-Wan's voice when she touches the lightsaber that previously belonged to Luke. Obi-Wan says Rey's name, before echoing the words of encouragement he gave to Luke during his training on the ''Millennium Falcon'': "These are your first steps." James Arnold Taylor first recorded the lines for this scene, but his recordings were replaced with Ewan McGregor's voice acting. Obi-Wan's line "Rey" is an edited voice recording of Alec Guinness saying "afraid". In ''The Last Jedi'', Luke indirectly mentions Obi-Wan while talking with Rey about the fall of the Jedi. He is also mentioned in Leia's message to him when R2-D2 plays it in an attempt to inspire Luke to help the Resistance (Star Wars), Resistance to the tyrannical First Order (Star Wars), First Order. According to the film's writer and director, Rian Johnson,
I would have loved to have had Ewan McGregor in the movie but it was just a matter of storytelling. The original relationship with Obi Wan — obviously if Alec Guinness were still with us that would have made sense. But we never saw Luke ever interact with the Ewan version of Obi Wan, so there's less of the emotional connection and it might have been a little odd. ... so it made sense that Yoda be the one that comes back and kicks [Luke's] butt a little.
In ''The Rise of Skywalker'', Rey hears Obi-Wan's voice along with other Jedi from the past as she battles a resurrected Palpatine, revealed to be both her grandfather and the mastermind of the First Order. Obi-Wan says to her, "These are your final steps, Rey. Rise and take them... Rey... Rise." Both the voices of McGregor and Guinness are used, again with recording of Guinness saying "afraid" being repurposed to say "Rey".


Other films

Obi-Wan is referenced indirectly in the 2016 film ''Rogue One''. Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) has a conversation with Senator
Bail Organa This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
in which they discuss delivering the plans for the Death Star to a Jedi Knight who went into hiding after the fall of the Republic; it is implied that they are talking about Obi-Wan. A standalone film centered on Obi-Wan was previously in pre-production before being cancelled in favor of the live-action series ''Obi-Wan Kenobi''. While the project was voted as the most wanted anthology film in a poll by ''The Hollywood Reporter'', it was instead developed as a limited streaming series following the box office disappointment of ''Solo: A Star Wars Story''. The film was to be directed and co-written by Stephen Daldry. According to TMZ, the movie would take place a few years after ''Revenge of the Sith'', featuring marauding Tusken Raiders and an evil warlord, who bring Obi-Wan out of hiding to protect Luke.


Television


''Clone Wars'' (2003) and ''The Clone Wars'' (2008–2014; 2020)

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a main character in the animated micro-series ''Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series), Star Wars: Clone Wars'' and the Computer-generated imagery, CGI animated series ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series), Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', voiced by James Arnold Taylor. In both series, Obi-Wan is a general in the Clone Wars (Star Wars), Clone Wars, and he and Anakin (voiced in each series respectively by Mat Lucas and Matt Lanter) have many adventures fighting the Separatists. During this time Obi-Wan's diplomatic skills earn him the appellation "The Negotiator" due to his reputation of preventing and stopping battles without the use of weapons. The latter series highlights his numerous confrontations with General Grievous, his adversarial relationship with Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress (voiced by Nika Futterman), his romance with Duchess Satine Kryze (voiced by Anna Graves), and the return of his old enemy Darth Maul.


''Rebels'' (2014–2018)

In ''Star Wars Rebels'', set five years before ''A New Hope'', Obi-Wan appears as a hologram in the pilot episode, "Spark of Rebellion". In the Season 3 episode "Visions and Voices", protagonist Ezra Bridger (voiced by Taylor Gray) discovers that Obi-Wan is alive on Tatooine; Obi-Wan's old nemesis Darth Maul finds him as well. In the episode "Twin Suns", Obi-Wan finds Ezra while he is lost in the desert while letting him know Maul was intending to use him. At that moment, Maul attacks them, and Obi-Wan ushers Ezra to retreat. Obi-Wan mortally wounds Maul during a final lightsaber duel; with his dying breath, Maul asks Obi-Wan if he is protecting the "Chosen One", and Obi-Wan replies that he is. After Maul's death, Obi-Wan is seen watching over Luke Skywalker from a distance. In ''Rebels'', Obi-Wan was voiced by Stephen Stanton, who replaced James Arnold Taylor. ''Rebels'' creator Dave Filoni, who worked with the character during the full duration of ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', said he considered asking McGregor to reprise and voice the role. However, a voice recording of the late Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi was used in a 2018 episode.


''The Bad Batch'' (2021)

Obi-Wan appears in a non-speaking cameo in the premiere episode ''Aftermath'' of ''Star Wars: The Bad Batch''. He is shown in the prologue rescuing Palpatine with Anakin.


''Obi-Wan Kenobi'' (2022)

Ewan McGregor reprised his role as a Jedi master in ''
Obi-Wan Kenobi Obi-Wan Kenobi () is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Within the Star Wars original trilogy, original trilogy, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master as a supporting character and is portrayed by English actor Alec Guinn ...
'', a live-action series for Disney+ set between the end of the prequel trilogy and the start of the original trilogy. It was officially announced on August 23, 2019 at the D23 Expo. McGregor expressed his relief at the project's announcement "because for four years, I've been having to lie to people about it", and stated that the series would consist of six one-hour episodes. Deborah Chow will direct the series and executive produce alongside Hossein Amini, who wrote the series. Other executive producers include McGregor, Kennedy, and Tracey Seaward. During Disney Investor Day 2020, it was announced that Hayden Christensen would return as Darth Vader in the series and that it would be set ten years after the events of ''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Revenge of the Sith''. In March 2021, it was announced that filming would begin in April, and that the cast would include Joel Edgerton,
Bonnie Piesse Bonnie Piesse (born 10 August 1983) is an Australian actress and singer. Her breakthrough role was playing a trapeze artist in the Australian children's television series ''High Flyers'' at the age of 15 and not long after that she was scouted ...
, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie.


''Tales of the Jedi''

Obi-Wan appears in the episode "Practice Makes Perfect" of ''Tales of the Jedi (TV series), Tales of the Jedi''. He is shown attending Ahsoka's training in the Jedi Temple.


Novels and comics

Obi-Wan Kenobi appears briefly in the novel ''Star Wars: Dark Disciple, Dark Disciple'' (2015), based on unfinished episodes from ''The Clone Wars''. It fleshes out the friendship between him and Rogue Jedi Quinlan Vos. In the novelization of ''The Last Jedi'' (2017) written by Jason Fry, Luke hears Obi-Wan's voice as he becomes one with the Force, telling him to "let go". The five-issue Marvel Comics mini-series ''Obi-Wan and Anakin'' focuses the title characters between ''The Phantom Menace'' and ''Attack of the Clones''. In the Star Wars (2015 comic book), 2015 ''Star Wars'' comic series, Luke Skywalker goes to Obi-Wan's abandoned house on Tatooine and finds his diary, from which stories of Obi-Wan's past are recounted. Obi-Wan appears as a main character in the novel ''Master and Apprentice'' (2019) by Claudia Gray, set before the events of ''The Phantom Menace''. The book details his relationship with his Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. He is also a main character in the novel ''Brotherhood'' (2022) by Mike Chen, set at the beginning of the Clone Wars (Star Wars), Clone Wars. Obi-Wan is featured as the protagonist of the novel ''Star Wars Padawan'' (2022) by Kiersten White, in which the character's early years as an apprentice are explored.


''Legends''

Obi-Wan appears extensively in the Star Wars expanded to other media, ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe of comic books and novels. In April 2014, all prior works except the episodic films and ''The Clone Wars'' animated series were rebranded by Lucasfilm as ''Legends'' and declared non-canon to the franchise.


Novels

Obi-Wan's life prior to ''The Phantom Menace'' is portrayed mostly in Jude Watson's ''Jedi Apprentice'' series, which follows his adventures as Qui-Gon's Padawan. Notable events in the series include battling the Dark Jedi Xanatos and going on his first independent mission. Watson's ''Jedi Quest'' series detail his adventures with Anakin in the years leading up to ''Attack of the Clones''. Obi-Wan's heroism just before and during the Clone Wars is portrayed in novels such as ''Outbound Flight'', ''The Approaching Storm'', and ''The Cestus Deception''. Obi-Wan's life between ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope'' is portrayed mostly in Jude Watson's ''The Last of the Jedi'' series. Set roughly a year after the fall of the Republic, the series follows Obi-Wan as he seeks out possible survivors of the Great Jedi Purge, most notably Anakin's former rival, Ferus Olin. The books also portray Obi-Wan adjusting to life as a hermit on Tatooine and quietly watching over Luke. He discovers that Vader is still alive after seeing him on the Holonet, the galaxy's official news source. Obi-Wan appears in the final chapter of ''Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader'', set just after the events in ''Revenge of the Sith'', in which he learns that Vader survived their duel on Mustafar. Obi-Wan appears as a Force ghost in many novels set after ''Return of the Jedi''. In ''The Truce at Bakura'', he appears to Luke to warn him about the threat presented by the Ssi-ruuk; in ''The Lost City of the Jedi'', he guides Luke to the eponymous city on Yavin IV; in ''Heir to the Empire'', meanwhile, he bids farewell to Luke, explaining that he must abandon his spiritual form to "move on" to a new, higher plane of consciousness. Before parting, Luke says that Obi-Wan was like a father to him, and Obi-Wan replies that he loved Luke like a son. ''Kenobi'' is a ''Star Wars Legends'' novel that tells the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi's first days of self-exile on the desert planet Tatooine following the events of ''Revenge of the Sith''. It was written by John Jackson Miller and first published by Del Rey in hardcover on August 27, 2013. The first paperback edition was released on July 29, 2014, and includes the short tie-in story "Incognito" by Miller.


Video games

Obi-Wan Kenobi appears in several video games, including:


Comic books

Issue #24 of Marvel's Star Wars (1977 comic book), 1977 ''Star Wars'' comic depicts Obi-Wan during the time of the Republic. Various Dark Horse Comics works utilize Kenobi, including Clone Wars (Star Wars)#Comics, several set during the Clone Wars. In ''Star Wars: Republic'' (1998–2006), Obi-Wan fights the Separatists during the Clone Wars. Among other notable storylines, he is kidnapped and tortured by Asajj Ventress before being rescued by Anakin ("Hate & Fear"), and apprehends corrupted Jedi Master Quinlan Vos ("The Dreadnaughts of Rendili"). Throughout the series, he grows increasingly wary of Palpatine's designs on the Republic and his influence on Anakin. In the non-canon story "Old Wounds", published in ''Star Wars: Visionaries'' (2005) and set a few years after the events of ''Revenge of the Sith'', Obi-Wan confronts Darth Maul on Tatooine to protect Luke. The duel ends when Owen Lars shoots and kills Maul; he then warns Obi-Wan to stay away from his nephew. Through the Force, Obi-Wan reassures Luke that he will be there for him when needed.


Cultural impact

''Mad (magazine), Mad'' magazine parodied the original film under the title ''Star Roars'' and included a character named 'Oldie Von Moldie', a grizzled 97-year-old whose lightsaber runs on an extension cord. The Shanghai nightclub shown in the beginning of ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' is called "Club Obi Wan" (Lucas wrote both the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' series). A real bar/club by this name existed in the Xihai district of Beijing, China but closed in the summer of 2010. ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'' episode "Star Koopa" (a spoof of ''Star Wars'') also had its own parody of Obi-Wan called 'Obi-Wan Toadi', and the live-action segment "Zenned Out Mario" featured a parody called "Obi-Wan Cannoli". The 1998 ''Pinky and the Brain'' episode "Star Warners" (which spoofed ''Star Wars'') featured Slappy Squirrel portraying a parody of Obi-Wan as 'Slappy Wanna Nappy'. In the ''Family Guy'' episode "Blue Harvest (Family Guy), Blue Harvest", Obi-Wan Kenobi is parodied by the character Herbert (Family Guy), Herbert. In the short film ''Thumb Wars'', Obi-Wan is parodied as the character "Oobedoob Benubi". In the film, his full name is 'Oobedoob Scooby-Doobi Benubi, the silliest name in the galaxy.' In the 1977 ''Star Wars'' parody ''Hardware Wars'', Obi-Wan is parodied by the character "Augie Ben Doggie". Guinness received an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role while worki ...
nomination for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the parody song "The Saga Begins", released approximately one month after the release of ''
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace ''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' is a 1999 American Epic film, epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ahmed Best, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Dan ...
'', "Weird Al" Yankovic sings a humorous summary of the plot of that film from Obi-Wan's perspective, to the tune of the song "American Pie (song), American Pie". In 2003, the American Film Institute selected Obi-Wan Kenobi as the AFI's 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains, 37th greatest movie hero of all time. He was also listed as ''IGN'' third greatest ''Star Wars'' character, as well as one of UGO Networks' favorite heroes of all time. In 2004, the Council of the Commune Lubicz in Poland passed a resolution giving the name "Obi-Wan Kenobi" to one of the streets in Grabowiec, Toruń County, Grabowiec, a small village near Toruń. The street was named in 2005. The spelling of the street name, ''Obi-Wana Kenobiego'' is the Genitive case, genitive form of the noun in the Polish language: ''(the street) of Obi-Wan Kenobi''. ''The Guardian'' cartoonist Steve Bell (cartoonist), Steve Bell portrayed Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party, as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Portraits of Ewan McGregor as Kenobi have been confused for being those of Jesus.


Relationships


Mentorship tree


References

Footnotes Citations


Sources

* * ''The New Essential Guide to Characters'', revised edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, * ''Star Wars Episode I Who's Who: A Pocket Guide to Characters of the Phantom Menace'', hardcover, 1999. Ryder Windham, * ''Star Wars: Power of Myth'', 1st edition paperback, 2000. DK Publishing, * ''Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 1998. David West Reynolds, * ''Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 1999. David West Reynolds, * ''Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 2002. David West Reynolds, * ''Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 2005. James Luceno, * ''Revised Core Rulebook (Star Wars Roleplaying Game)'', 1st edition, 2002. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, J.D. Wiker, Steve Sansweet, * ''Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook'', 1st edition, 2000. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins,


External links

* *
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