Star Wars fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the upcoming Disney+ series that will explore the Jedi master’s life between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. McGregor first played the role in the prequel trilogy, following in the footsteps of Alec Guinness, who portrayed the older version of the character in the original trilogy. But are these two actors related in real life, as some rumors suggest?
The answer is no, Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness are not related by blood, but they do have a family connection through another Star Wars actor: Denis Lawson. Lawson played Wedge Antilles, a Rebel pilot who fought alongside Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy. He is also McGregor’s uncle in real life.
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How Denis Lawson Influenced Ewan McGregor’s Career
According to IMDb, Denis Lawson is the younger brother of McGregor’s mother, Carol Diane Lawson. He was born on September 27, 1947, in Crieff, Scotland, and began his acting career in the 1970s. He appeared in several British films and TV shows before landing the role of Wedge Antilles in Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. He reprised the role in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, becoming one of the few characters to survive all three major battles of the original trilogy.
Lawson also had a cameo appearance as Wedge in The Rise of Skywalker, making him one of the few actors to appear in both the original and sequel trilogies. He declined to reprise his role in The Force Awakens, reportedly saying that it would have “bored” him.
Lawson’s nephew, Ewan McGregor, was born on March 31, 1971, in Perth, Scotland. He grew up watching Star Wars and idolizing his uncle’s role as Wedge. He decided to pursue acting as a career and left school at 16 to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. He later studied drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
McGregor made his film debut in 1994’s Shallow Grave, directed by Danny Boyle. He rose to fame after playing heroin addict Mark Renton in Boyle’s Trainspotting in 1996. He also starred in several other films, such as Emma, Velvet Goldmine, A Life Less Ordinary, and Little Voice.
How Ewan McGregor Became Obi-Wan Kenobi
In 1997, McGregor was cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the first installment of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. He was chosen for his resemblance to a young Alec Guinness and his ability to capture his voice and mannerisms. He also had to undergo extensive physical training to perform the lightsaber fights and stunts.
McGregor reprised his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, completing his transformation from a Padawan learner to a Jedi master. He also voiced the character in several animated shows and video games, such as The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Battlefront II.
McGregor’s performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi earned him critical acclaim and fan admiration. He was nominated for several awards, including a Saturn Award, a Teen Choice Award, an MTV Movie Award, and a People’s Choice Award. He also received an honorary OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 for his services to drama and charity.
What’s Next for Ewan McGregor and Obi-Wan Kenobi
After Revenge of the Sith, McGregor expressed interest in returning to play Obi-Wan Kenobi again if there was ever a story that explored his exile on Tatooine. In 2019, it was officially announced that he would reprise his role in a Disney+ series titled Obi-Wan Kenobi, set 10 years after Revenge of the Sith and nine years before A New Hope.
The series will explore Obi-Wan Kenobi’s struggle with the aftermath of Order 66 and the rise of the Empire. It will also feature the return of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker, as well as other familiar and new characters from the Star Wars universe. The series is directed by Deborah Chow, who previously helmed two episodes of The Mandalorian.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is expected to premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2022. It will consist of six episodes and will be a limited series with no plans for a second season. It will be one of several Star Wars shows coming to Disney+, along with The Mandalorian season 3, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Rangers of the New Republic, The Acolyte, Lando, Visions, A Droid Story, and Rogue Squadron.
Ewan McGregor has also been busy with other projects, such as playing the title role in Netflix’s Halston, a biographical drama about the American fashion designer. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance. He also starred in Doctor Sleep, Birds of Prey, Christopher Robin, and Beauty and the Beast. He made his directorial debut with American Pastoral in 2016.
Conclusion
Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness are not related by blood, but they share a family connection through Denis Lawson, who played Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy. Lawson is McGregor’s uncle and influenced his acting career. McGregor followed Guinness’ footsteps by playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy and will reprise his role in the upcoming Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Both actors have left a lasting legacy in the Star Wars saga and beyond.
