We’re just under a month from the two episode premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi, probably one of the most anticipated shows in Lucasfilm’s upcoming TV slate, and new details are dripping in like moisture on Tatooine. Like the vaporators, we’ve gathered all those tidbits together so you don’t have to hunt down all the droplets! So head below to hear about the first female composer for Star Wars live-action, Natalie Holt, find some new images from the show thanks to Total Film, some anecdotes from showrunner/director Deborah Chow and the cast (like cutting the Maul rumors in half), and more below!
How about we start with the biggest and most exciting news?! Natalie Holt, whose score for the Loki TV show was both weird and grandiose in the best way possible, will score Obi-Wan Kenobi! She’s the first woman to compose music for live-action Star Wars and I love she’ll be performing in it as well, telling Vanity Fair: “…I am singing and I’m playing viola. And I’m playing some violin in there too. So yeah, I am performing on the score.” There’s also a delightful reveal John William’s making a theme for the show came about due to him calling Kathleen Kennedy and simply saying, “I just want to write Benny a theme.” I really enjoyed his theme for Han in Solo and the Galaxy’s Edge one as well (I was just there!), so I’m eager to hear what he’s cooked up for “Benny” (isn’t that nickname just delightful coming from him?), but I’m even more exciting to see Holt will bring to the entire show. And there’s a reason we haven’t read any of it, besides keeping it under wraps…she just finished it!
What else has been mentioned or revealed? Well, for starters, lets check in with Deborah Chow, series director! She’s said a few intriguing things about the series recently: despite the rumors, she says Maul was never planned for the show while she’s been involved, considering Star Wars Rebels took care of that storyline already in a beautiful, memorable way; but she did tease cameos and surprises, though of course was tight-lipped on what those could actually be, so I imagine she’s not talking about the guesses people already have of like Ahsoka, while iterating this was planned as one season but they’d never be against more; while comments from her saying, “And telling [the story] that they did have these 20 years, and obviously something happened in these 20 years, and that there are some things from our series where there’s going to be a little bit more room for interpretation on,” hints how the show might change how we view Obi-Wan and Vader’s meeting on the Death Star in A New Hope.
In weirdly delightful news to hear, Hayden Christensen prepared for his return as Vader by not only watching all the films (which is what Ewan McGregor did), but The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels too! Both series dealt with some very important character development and fleshing out of Anakin Skywalker, so it’s clear he understands the assignment…and now has me wondering if he watched TCW in release or chronological order?! He’s also seemingly teased we might see more of him in the role of Vader, likely in the Ahsoka show as rumors suggest, though I’m just glad he’s back and eager to be part of the franchise again.
Lastly, the star of the show himself, Ewan was honest about how freaking scared he was finally acting against Darth Vader in the suit, considering he never got to do so before, and I hope we get to see a bit of that in his performance in the show when they eventually duel, while of course he says he’s totally down for returning to the role. And we’ll probably have more about the show soon, considering Ewan will be on Jimmy Kimmel for May the Fourth! Plus, congrats to Ewan and Mary Elizabeth Winstead on their marriage!
Elsewhere, there’s a preview of the first issue of Marvel’s Obi-Wan comic miniseries, showing us a youngling Kenobi! It’s out May 4 and we should have a review either that day or early Thursday.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.