To me, no matter what shit has gone down between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, Kenobi’s true rival will always be Darth Maul. Granted, that really only borne out in the novels and animated shows after the prequel trilogy, but it’s still the case that those two are enemies through and through. So with the arrival of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+, there was an expectation we’d see those two clash sabers once again. Well, it ain’t happening.
So there have been a few iterations of Obi-Wan Kenobi. It first started out as a movie, but was eventually transitioned to a Disney+ series from director Deborah Chow and writer Hossein Amini. But that version was put on hold for retooling, and when it was brought back, Amini was replaced by King Arthur: Legend of the Sword writer Joby Harrold. So what brought that on?
Lucasfilm prez Kathleen Kennedy told EW…
“We’re looking, ultimately, to make a hopeful, uplifting story. And it’s tricky when you’re starting with a character in the state that Obi-Wan would be in coming off of ‘Revenge of the Sith.’ That’s a pretty bleak period of time. You can’t just wave the magic wand with any writer and arrive at a story that necessarily reflects what you want to feel.”
Shouldn’t it be dark, given the time period? Whatever. In any case, THR comes through with a few details on what the Amini version would’ve looked like. For one, Darth Maul would’ve been the main villain, with Ray Park set to reprise the role. That didn’t happen, obviously, and the decision was made to bring in Darth Vader and the Inquisitors.
The report also confirms a longstanding rumor that Lucasfilm execs were worried the series felt too similar to The Mandalorian, with its “Lone Wolf and Cub” style storyline.
While I would’ve liked to have seen Kenobi vs. Maul one more time, it never would’ve made sense given their decidedly final battle in Star Wars Rebels. Even if set prior to that fateful encounter, it never would’ve made any sense as it was the culmination of nearly two decades of Maul thirsting for revenge.
Anyway, Obi-Wan Kenobi hits Disney+ for six episodes beginning on May 25th.
