We learned upon the release of “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” that Ewan McGregor made the sound while crossing lightsabers with Darth Maul in the film. It’s an endearing habit that he continues to this day.
During the virtual press conference for Disney+’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” McGregor was initially evasive about the practice. But then his co-star Moses Ingram busted him. “Everyone knows that you do it,” she said.
Finally, McGregor came clean. “I know,” he said. “It’s impossible not to, and if you’re not making them, you’re doing it in your head, I think.”
Maintaining that sense of play is essential to being a great actor. Your inner eight-year-old must always be accessible. So it’s wonderful, and not at all surprising, to learn that McGregor is living out every kid’s dream when he dons his robe and takes up his blue lightsaber. I would do the same thing, and so would you.
As for McGregor’s portrayal of Kenobi, it doesn’t appear that the character will be back any time soon. Lucasfilm head honcho Kathleen Kennedy told Variety in April 2023 that a second season of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” is not in active development. Given how many spin-offs the company has on tap, and the less-than-enthusiastic critical reception to the miniseries, it’s possible we’ve seen the last of McGregor’s Kenobi — which is fine. There’s nowhere for the character to go now that the gap between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope” has been spackled. Let the tortured Jedi rest.
