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As one of the guiding lights in theStar Warssaga – training Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy , then exiling himself to Tatooine in time to mentor Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy – Obi - Wan Kenobi is one of the fan base ’s favorite lineament . In the original trilogy , Alec Guinness played an old , sassy Obi - Wan .
Then , in the prequels , Ewan McGregor supervise to do what Alden Ehrenreich would later break down to do : he take on the unseasoned reading of a sports fan - favoriteStar Warscharacter that was made iconic by a different actor and gain ground over fans . Both thespian did a fine job with the role . So , here are 5 Things Ewan McGregor Brought ( And 5 Things Alec Guinness Brought ) To Obi - Wan Kenobi .
Ewan McGregor: Irresistible charm
Anakin Skywalker was theorise to be the lead role of theStar Warsprequel trilogy , but since Hayden Christensen ’s acting was wooden and destitute of unfeigned emotion , fan took more to the storyline require Obi - Wan Kenobi . Ewan McGregor ’s effortless charisma made all of Obi - Wan ’s facial expression and melody deliveries compelling . All McGregor had to do was move around up one of the corners of his mouth to convey something Obi - Wan was think or feeling . He incarnate the eccentric and brought irresistible charm along with him . Obi - Wan is one of the purest - hearted Jedi , so an actor with McGregor ’s comfortable charisma was a necessary .
Alec Guinness: A spiritual presence
Obi - Wan ’s office in the original trilogy is that of the sassy , quondam wise man fig ; the powerful wizard who conjoin the young Cuban sandwich on their quest , and then sacrifices himself so that they can continue the fight without him . Obi - Wan is essentially the Gandalf ofA New Hope , and the purpose requiredan Ian McKellen - level sieve legendto pull it off . Fortunately , George Lucas landed such an actor when Alec Guinness bless on to play the part . He bring a spiritual presence to the role of Ben Kenobi , one that set the mold for all the on - screen Jedi Knights to come .
Ewan McGregor: A wry sense of humor
Cringeworthy lines about the distance of trade negotiations away , Ewan McGregor ’s Obi - Wan is one of the funniest fictitious character in theStar Warsprequel trilogy . Whenever he ’s require to form into activeness or react to some solemn peril , he ’s all job . But in his off - time , Obi - Wan has a wry good sense of humor , and McGregor blast it . One - liners like , “ So barbarian ! , ” brought a relatable spell to Obi - Wan . He could do several somersaults in the strain and slash down a Sith Lord while he was up there , but when he landed on his foundation , he ’d have the perfect line to undercut the site with some comedy .
Alec Guinness: Infinite wisdom
Although he ’s not as wise as Yoda , Obi - Wan Kenobi is one of the knowing characters in theStar Warsuniverse . He ’s wise when we see him as a young man in the prequel trilogy , but it took the effects of ordering 66 and decade of self - exile for him to truly become a judicious man in fourth dimension for the event of the original trilogy .
Obi - Wan has go through a lot of exciting – and sometimes terrifying – things in his life sentence , so he has advice on how to deal with passably much anything . Even if your religion is wiped out by an authoritarian government activity powerfulness , Obi - Wan will have some top on wield it .
Ewan McGregor: The peak of Obi-Wan’s lightsaber abilities
InA New Hope , we see Alec Guinness ’ old version of Obi - Wan Kenobi engage in one last lightsaber duel before being strickle down by Darth Vader . But it was a very tame lightsaber duel , using a fighting style that is more commonly used by previous , slower Force users . Ewan McGregor gave us the peak of Obi - Wan ’s lightsaber ability . He primarily shows off his skills in his intense conflict with General Grievous – one mankind versus a four - armed golem was n’t an easy fight to advance – and also , when he leaps out of the bottomless pit that Darth Maul has thrown him into , triumphantly slicing the Sith Lord in half .
Alec Guinness: The Jedi mind trick
The Jedi mind trick is one of the most challenging parts of theStar Warslore . A Jedi with complete restraint of the Light Side of the Force can trick non - Force substance abuser into conceive a Trygve Halvden Lie . InA New Hope , Alec Guinness brilliantly put in us to this conception when he told some Stormtroopers , “ These are not the droids you ’re looking for . ” He convinced them that R2 - D2 and C-3PO were n’t the droids they ’d been grade to capture , and the Stormtroopers rent them pass through into Mos Eisley . Guinness ’ insidious flick of the script while performing the Jedi mind trick is what really sell it .
Ewan McGregor: Obi-Wan’s battle stance
Ewan McGregor gave us Obi - Wan ’s iconic conflict stance . He would hold up his lightsaber and draw his other hand back , as if he was about to slingshot the blade at his opposite . This battle posture would be recreated for the prequel - geological era Obi - Wan we see in enliven shows likeThe Clone Wars , but it was McGregor who first pioneer it on the large screen .
The Jedi have very specific fight styles in theStar Warscanon , and the expressive style used by McGregor ’s young Obi - Wan is different than the style used by Alec Guinness ’ sometime Obi - Wan in the original trilogy . It ’s more telling and zippy .
Alec Guinness: Riveting monologues
Before appearing inStar Wars , Alec Guinness starred in such iconic movie classics asThe Bridge on the River KwaiandLawrence of Arabia , so George Lucas bang he could be counted on to deliver a couple of hefty soliloquy . Ben Kenobi is creditworthy for a lot of the exposition and world - building inA New Hope , as he explains the Force and the Jedi and the Sith and the Rebels and the Empire ( which would all have been folderal to none - the - knowing moviegoers in 1977 ) , and also tells Luke about the dangers of Mos Eisley and the force of Darth Vader . All of his monologue are riveting .
Ewan McGregor: Internal conflict
When we catch up with the elderly Obi - Wan in the original trilogy , he ’s made peace with the world . He ’s one of the most herculean ( and only outlast ) Jedi Knights in the galaxy , he ’s uncoerced to spring into activity when malign power come to the Rebellion ’s door , and he ’s made pacification with the prospect of dying . The younger edition played by Ewan McGregor was fill up with national engagement , particularly over training Anakin . He only trained him because it was his Master ’s dying wish . He was n’t ready to take on an apprentice , and yet he did it anyway – and it ended tragically .
Alec Guinness: Obi-Wan as a Force ghost
Before Alec Guinness reappear as a ghostly Obi - Wan inThe Empire Strikes Back , Force ghost were unknown toStar Warsfans . Since his ghost does n’t appear until the 5th movie ( in chronological order ) , it can be easy to bury that Guinness innovate the thought of the Force ghost to the world . He came up with the beyond - the - serious vocalization of the Jedi – not too spooky , but still middling otherworldly – and he made the very conception of a Force shade seem palatable , and not ridiculous , as it could ’ve been misinterpret . Obi - Wan ’s Force wraith appear to Luke like a godsend whenever he needs a little rise of guidance .
NEXT : The Mandalorian : 10 Reasons Why It ’s Disney ’s Best Star Wars Project Yet
