"Obi-Wan Kenobi" is the latest "Star Wars" series set to premiere on Disney Plus. The upcoming show focuses on the Jedi Master 10 years after the events of "Star Wars Episode III — Revenge of the Sith," and nine years before Kenobi's first big-screen appearance in "Star Wars Episode IV — A New Hope."
Ewan McGregor returns to the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi for the first time in 17 years. When the show picks up, Kenobi is still dealing with the guilt of losing his Jedi Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, to the dark side. The show's creator Joby Harold explained that the script aims to fill in pieces of the timeline to explain how Obi-Wan goes from fiery and passionate in the prequels (as played by McGregor) to the wise Jedi Master played by Sir Alec Guinness in "A New Hope."
Check out the trailer for 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'
In addition to shots of Obi-Wan on Tatooine watching over a young Luke Skywalker, the trailer also shows Kenobi on a new adventure while the Empire tries to track him down. The end of the trailer teases the return of Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker, who will be played once again by Hayden Christensen. Christensen first played Anakin in "Star Wars Episode II — Attack of the Clones."
If you're looking to catch up on Obi-Wan's on-screen history before watching the new show, there are several films and series you should stream. Below, we rounded up six "Star Wars" movies and shows that are essential viewing ahead of the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" premiere. All of our picks are available on Disney Plus, which costs $8 a month.
6 'Star Wars' movies and shows to watch before 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'
Though the events of "A New Hope" take place last in the timeline of Obi-Wan's life, this is the movie that introduced audiences to the Jedi Master. We first hear the character's name in the now-iconic scene where a hologram of Princess Leia says, "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
At the start of the film, Kenobi lives mostly as a recluse on the desert planet of Tatooine. After receiving the message from R2-D2, Obi-Wan gives Luke Skywalker the lightsaber that belonged to Anakin, Luke's father. He then joins the young hero on a journey to rescue Leia.
Sir Alec Guinness plays Obi-Wan in "A New Hope," and also appears as a ghost version of the character in "Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back" and "Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi."
'Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace' (1999)
Set 32 years before the events of "A New Hope," the first "Star Wars" prequel features Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) as a Padawan training under Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson). On Tatooine, they discover a 9-year-old Anakin Skywalker, who Qui-Gon believes to be the chosen one who will bring balance to the Force.
The movie shows Kenobi in his prime as a young Jedi. It also features the first showdown between Kenobi and Darth Maul, a villainous member of evil Force users called the Sith.
'Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones' (2002)Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen as Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith."
"Attack of the Clones" takes place 10 years after "The Phantom Menace." Ewan McGregor returns as Obi-Wan and is joined by Hayden Christensen as an adult Anakin Skywalker for the first time.
Though we don't yet know the extent Anakin/Darth Vader will feature in "Obi-Wan Kenobi," this movie is important since it really establishes the friendship and mentor-relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin. We get to see them working together with Senator Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) at the beginning of the Clone Wars before Anakin turns to the dark side.
Obi-Wan and Anakin are main characters in "The Clone Wars" animated series. The show explores the period of time between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" when the two Jedi fought together against Count Dooku and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
This show is actually the second "Clone Wars" TV series to be released. The first show was a 2D-animated program that ran from 2003 to 2005. That series is also available on Disney Plus but it's now considered a "Star Wars Legend" title. This means that it's is no longer part of the official "Star Wars" story.
The newer series, however, is part of the larger "Star Wars" canon, and it features a lot of character development. Specifically for the purposes of "Obi-Wan Kenobi," the show provides an in-depth look at who Obi-Wan was in the years leading up to his exile on Tatooine.
"The Clone Wars" ran for seven seasons and a total of 133 episodes that can be broken down into mini-arcs. If you don't want to watch the entire series before the premiere of "Obi-Wan Kenobi," here are a few Obi-Wan-centric arcs to check out:
Geonosis arc: Featured in season two, episodes 4-8
Mandalore Trilogy arc: Featured in season two, episodes 12-14
The Mortis arc: Featured in season three, episodes 15-17
Zygerrian arc: Featured in season four, episodes 11-13
Deception arc: Featured in season four, episodes 15-18
Dath Maul Revenge arc: Featured in season four, episodes 19-22
Shadow Conspiracy arc: Featured in season five, episodes one and 14-16
'Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith' (2005)Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen as Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith."
Three years after "Attack of the Clones," the Clone Wars are finally coming to an end in "Revenge of the Sith." Obi-Wan and Anakin are now war heroes, best friends, and a Jedi Master and Knight, respectively. The movie focuses partly on Anakin's pull to the dark side and transformation into Darth Vader.
It culminates in a memorable and brutal lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan and Vader. We're likely to see the continued emotional fallout from this duel in "Obi-Wan Kenobi," in addition to a possible rematch between these friends-turned-rivals.
Though "Star Wars Rebels" is set after the new "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series, Darth Vader is a prominent villain in the animated series and Obi-Wan plays an important role in one episode.
Fans looking to catch up on all things Obi-Wan before the premiere of the new show should check out season three, episode 20 of "Rebels," titled "Twin Suns." In this episode, the long-standing storyline between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul, which was introduced in "The Phantom Menace," comes to a head in the form of one final lightsaber duel.