There’s a moment in every Star Wars fan’s life when they realize the Force takes its time.
When Disney announced an Obi-Wan Kenobi series in 2019, fans lost their minds. Ewan McGregor, the actor who first brought the young Jedi Knight to life in the prequels, would return. Finally, we’d see the story between Episode III and Episode IV—Obi-Wan watching over young Luke on Tatooine, a broken man waiting for his purpose to resurface.
Then came the delays. And the rumors. And the silence.
But here’s what actually happened—because McGregor himself set the record straight, and it’s more interesting than the drama suggested.
The Announcement That Started Everything
In August 2019, at Disney’s D23 Expo, Lucasfilm made it official: Ewan McGregor would return as Obi-Wan Kenobi for a Disney+ limited series. The prequels’ hero. The wise old mentor we’d mourned in A New Hope. Coming back.
The timing seemed perfect. The Mandalorian had just launched on Disney+ and was already a phenomenon. Disney wanted more Star Wars content, fast. And Obi-Wan—well, his story between the prequels and originals practically begged to be told.
McGregor confirmed his return in August 2019, and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy reportedly said the scripts were complete. Everything pointed toward a 2020 release.
Then January 2020 hit—and everything changed.
What Actually Happened: The Delays Explained
In January 2020, reports emerged that the Obi-Wan Kenobi series had been put on hold. Not just delayed—indefinitely. Pre-production crews at Pinewood Studios in London were reportedly sent home.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that only two scripts had been written, despite Kennedy’s earlier claims. More concerning: Lucasfilm was looking for a new writer, and the show was being reconfigured from six episodes down to four.
The main issue? The scripts reportedly too closely resembled The Mandalorian. You know the plot—Obi-Wan protecting a young Luke (and potentially Leia) while in hiding. Sound familiar? That was essentially Baby Yoda’s storyline. Lucasfilm wanted something different.
McGregor himself addressed the chaos at a Birds of Prey event in Los Angeles, and his response was refreshingly blunt:
“It’s just slid to next year, that’s all. The scripts are really good. They want them to be better. I think we keep our same airdate.”
In a separate interview with Variety, he doubled down:
“I didn’t realize until we got here tonight and everybody is going, ‘Oh my god!’ But it’s not really as dramatic as it might seem.”
He called some of the online reports “bullshit,” insisting the production was merely paused to strengthen the scripts—not overhauled.
The Silver Lining: Why the Delays Actually Helped
Here’s what fans might not realize: the delay probably made the show better.
McGregor had read 80-90% of the scripts before the delay and called them “really, really good.” But Lucasfilm wanted more time after Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker released in December 2019. The entire creative team had bandwidth to re-examine the story.
Director Deborah Chow, who helmed portions of The Mandalorian, remained attached throughout. The vision remained intact—just stronger.
The show released in May 2022 with six episodes (not four), and critics generally responded well. The delay transformed a potentially rushed project into a more thoughtful series.
McGregor’s Post-Release Thoughts: Hoping for More
After Obi-Wan Kenobi premiered, McGregor didn’t hide his enthusiasm for more.
During a 2023 digital press tour, he said:
“I’d love to do another season of this. I thought there was a lot more story to tell.”
At Fan Expo Chicago 2025, he continued pushing:
“Somebody give me a job. Come on, Disney. We need season 2 for goodness’ sake. What are we waiting for?”
Despite his hope, Season 2 hasn’t materialized. Reports suggest Lucasfilm is now focused on theatrical releases (The Mandalorian season 4, the Rey movie), and Disney’s strategy has shifted away from the massive streaming slate it once planned.
But McGregor hasn’t given up entirely.
What This Tells Us About Disney+ Strategy
The Obi-Wan Kenobi delays reflect a larger pattern.
In 2020, Disney announced an ambitious slate of Star Wars shows—Obi-Wan, * Rangers of the New Republic*, *Ahsoka*, and more. Only some materialized. *Rangers* was quietly shelved. Corporate priorities changed.
The lesson? Big franchise announcements don’t guarantee productions. Studios delay, recalibrate, and sometimes walk away.
Pros and Cons of the Situation
Pros
- Better final product: The delay allowed stronger scripts
- Full season preserved: Originally cut to 4 episodes, released as 6
- McGregor remained engaged: No diva behavior, just professionalism
Cons
- Long wait: Fans expected 2020, got 2022
- Season 2 uncertainty: Likely won’t happen
- Production instability: Highlights creative challenges at Lucasfilm
Tips for Star Wars Fans Watching at Home
- Don’t panic at delays: Production setbacks are common. The Mandalorian faced challenges too.
- Trust the process: Lucasfilm’s patience with Obi-Wan resulted in a quality series.
- Stay updated via official sources: Follow Lucasfilm and Disney announcements, not just rumors.
- Enjoy what’s available: The 2022 series stands well on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Obi-Wan Kenobi show actually canceled?
No. The 2022 series premiered on Disney+ as a six-episode limited event. However, Season 2 hasn’t materialized despite McGregor’s hopes.
Why was the show delayed in the first place?
Reports say Lucasfilm wasn’t satisfied with the scripts’ similarity to The Mandalorian. Writer Hossein Amini departed, and the show was reworked before production could proceed.
Will there ever be an Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2?
Unlikely at this point. Disney’s Star Wars strategy has shifted toward theatrical releases, and no official Season 2 has been announced. McGregor remains hopeful publicly, but nothing is in development.
Final Verdict
The Obi-Wan Kenobi delays frustrated fans—but they also produced a better show.
McGregor’s professionalism during the crisis was notable. He could have complained. Instead, he defended the project, trusted the process, and delivered a performance that honored the character.
The Force, it seems, waited. And fans got a worthy story.
Rating
Obi-Wan Kenobi Production Journey: 8/10
A bumpy road that delivered. McGregor’s handling of the chaos deserves credit, and the final product justified the wait—even if we never see Season 2.
Sources:
- IGN – Obi-Wan Kenobi Series Delay Won’t Change Release Date
- Variety – Ewan McGregor Addresses Obi-Wan Kenobi Script Problems
- Screen Rant – Ewan McGregor Confirms Obi-Wan TV Show Production Delay
- EW – Ewan McGregor says Obi-Wan Disney+ series ‘pushed back’ over scripts
- Screen Rant – Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 Hopes and Challenges
Ewan McGregor on Obi-Wan Kenobi Delays: What Really HappenedEwan McGregor addresses the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ show delays in 2020. The real story behind the production challenges and what came next.
