Ewan McGregor Describes Obi-Wan Kenobi As Being “Not Able To Use The Force”

Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar, we were given the opportunity to join a press conference for the upcoming Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi series. It was attended by Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Moses Ingram (Inquisitor Reva) and director/showrunner Deborah Chow. They answered a bunch of questions, including what their favourite Star Wars movies were (Ewan’s favourite is Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope).

However, the most interesting part of the press conference was when Ewan described the current state of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the series when asked how different this version of the character is compared to previous versions.

He answered:

“I think because of what happens at the end of Episode III Revenge Of The Sith, the Jedi Order all but destroyed and those who aren’t killed have gone into hiding and can’t communicate with one another. For 10 years, Obi-Wan has been in hiding, he can’t communicate with any of his old comrades.

He’s living a pretty solitary life, he’s not able to use the Force, so in a way, he’s lost his faith, like somebody who’s stepped away from their religion or something, if you like.

The only responsibility from his past life is looking over Luke Skywalker, who he’s delivered to Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. That’s sort of the only link to his past, so it was just interesting to take a character we know and love from Alec Guiness’ creation of the character in the 70s, this wise sage-like spiritual man, and then the work that I did in Episodes I to III from the Padawan to somebody who’s sitting on the Jedi Council.

To take that Obi-Wan into this sort of more broken place was really interesting to do.”

There are two ways to consider what Ewan said; the first is that it’s probably not meant to be taken literally, and it’s not that Obi-Wan Kenobi CAN’T use the Force, but it’s just that he WON’T use the Force for fear of being detected by the Emperor, Darth Vader, or the Inquistors (since he’s in hiding).

The second (and juicier theory) is that he actually CAN’T use the Force after the events of Episode III Revenge Of The Sith. It’s curious that Ewan would describe him as someone who’s “lost his faith”. More often than not, the Force works when there’s faith. So, a lack of faith or belief may mean that Obi-Wan Kenobi can’t use the Force. Perhaps we’ll see Obi-Wan trying to contact Qui-Gon Jinn’s Force Ghost like he was instructed to by Master Yoda at the end of Episode III.

All of this remains speculation for now, and Ewan McGregor’s words can mean anything at this point. We’ll have to wait until the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on Disney+ Hotstar on 27 May 2022 to find out the truth.