KENOBI: A Star Wars Story....

By ExpandingUniverse, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG

Kenobi could be a good story. Plenty of room for character arcs involving impatience, depression, moral uncertainty, etc. If it leads up to or ties in with the masterful handling in Rebels, I'm in.

So if there MUST be a Kenobi film, how about one that takes place roughly around Attack of the Clones? My favourite bit of the Clone Wars cartoon was that three-part arc where Kenobi does his undercover investigation.* A film that executes that concept in full-on Film Noir style would be great. I'd love to see a movie where Kenobi dives head-first into a web of lies and deceit in the seedy underbelly of Coruscant (or elsewhere) on the tail of some shadowy villain, with only his dubious underground contacts for back-up. Bonus points if he relies mostly his wit and a few force abilities and hardly ever takes his sword out. Even more bonus points if they get someone like Park Chan-Wook to direct it.

Failing that, seeing something that borrows a lot from classic samurai films would be fine, too.

*Edit: Now that I think of it, that might be the only part of Clone Wars that I even remember anymore.

Edited by Superunknown

I agree that there isn't really a need for a Kenobi film. Between Eps 1-4 and Clone Wars, I think his tale has been well told.

If they did a film the only part of Kenobi's tale that hasn't been documented was his time between Eps 3 and 4, and Rebels tells us that was just a long time spent lurking on the Lars homestead.

I am more excited about the new series by Favreau. New material and new characters will be exciting, and hopefully interesting.

There is really no point in making a Kenobi movie. The scope would be limited to Tatooine, and Obi-wan would have to stay pretty low profile. Sure, you could work with that to make something like a fairly small scale western/samurai-movie in the Tatooine desert, but that doesn't exactly scream Star Wars, now does it. And the movie would still have to bend over backwards to keep the Lars/Skywalker family out of it, as he's supposed to be watching over them. I really see very little room to scratch out something interesting here that doesn't reach EU-levels of stupidity (looking at you TFU!).

That said...

If Ewan McGregor comes back to play Obi-wan (and really, is there any other reason to make a Kenobi movie), they can make a lighthearted, romantic comedy musical based upon the collected works of REO Speedwagon interpreted through a Star Wars filter and I would still stand in line to watch it.

With the way Solo has performed I doubt this movie will happen any time soon. I imagine they will slow their cadence unless they are already in production and the die is cast.

The only Obi-Wan movie I would be interested is the young Obi-Wan protecting the just as young and inexperienced Duchess of Mandalore. ?

I get the concerns expressed but whilst Obi-Wan did 'retire' to Tatooine to watch over Luke, I've seen nothing that suggests he didn't ever leave the planet once during that 19 year stint. A compelling story could easily take place that involves Obi-Wan during that time frame and has nothing to do with Luke or even really Tatooine.

If they go ahead with this, I hope they avoid the obvious and tired "protect Luke from Jabba's goons" type stories.

In terms of who Disney is appealing to, people like me think that at least three of those four stories stink.

Plus, as Star Wars becomes more modern folklore than George Lucas' miraculous vision, the more it can be retold — with each perspective able to coexist.

I think it is time for a Villain star wars story.. Vader (between 3 and 4), Palpatine (the apprenticeship under plagueis.. or something), Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress.. ect That is where the money would be... you need something to break up the feel good stories where the heroes always win!

A Kenobi movie. I agree that I don't think is necessary, but if we must...

Shortly after epIII a villain (emperor's hand, wicked Dark side adept, bounty hunter) discovers Obi-wan is in hiding in Tatooine, so he needs to flee the planet and stop this villain before the Emperor and Vader finds 's out.

In the struggle, he finds out that the galaxy needs a Jedi Knight, and that he could save thousands by helping the oppressed. But he knows that his destiny is to protect Luke and training. At some point, its explained why he didn't train him.

Except for the leaving the planet part, Marvel's pretty much done that story already, with Black Krssantan from the Darth Vader & Doctor Aphra comics as the bounty hunter.

On 6/2/2018 at 1:24 PM, wilsch said:

In terms of who Disney is appealing to, people like me think that at least three of those four stories stink.

Plus, as Star Wars becomes more modern folklore than George Lucas' miraculous vision, the more it can be retold — with each perspective able to coexist.

you are pretty much right.. i thought 7 and 8 SUUUCCCKKKKKED! Rogue One was good I thought.. and Solo was ok.

I mean come on Kylo Ren is a PUSS! and I will tell you in the movies when you seen Darth Vader or Darth Maul.. you knew someone was SCREWED and I always relished the scenes!

Edited by LordEnforcer

I really hope, if it is made, they cast Ewan McGreggor. For me, he was a shining light amid the darkness in the prequels. And he really loves the role. Also, he's actually the right age for a pre-rebellion story....

.

(I typed a decent sized paragraph then it went t*tsup... so I couldn't be bothered to type it again)

Edited by ExpandingUniverse
On 6/2/2018 at 9:53 PM, Nytwyng said:

Except for the leaving the planet part, Marvel's pretty much done that story already, with Black Krssantan from the Darth Vader & Doctor Aphra comics as the bounty hunter.

But would Disleen use this? Probably not, as don't they want to start writing new canon instead?

1 minute ago, ExpandingUniverse said:

But would Disleen use this? Probably not, as don't they want to start writing new canon instead?

It’s part of the new canon...the current Star Wars series has periodic “From the Journal of Obi-Wan Kenobi” single-issue stories, set during his time on Tatooine, and this was one of them.

Just now, Nytwyng said:

It’s part of the new canon...the current Star Wars series has periodic “From the Journal of Obi-Wan Kenobi” single-issue stories, set during his time on Tatooine, and this was one of them.

Oh right...maybe they will then :)

A friend of mine did a poll this morning on Facebook with essentially these questions.

1. Favorite Star Wars character?

2. Did you like Force Awakens?
3. Did you like Rogue One?

4. Did you like The Last Jedi?

5. Did you like Solo?

Surprisingly most of the people on his thread liked all four movies and some with L3 as their favorite character. This really shocks me because most people I have interacted with in RL/Face to Face say they disliked TLJ. Personally I have enjoyed 3 out of the 4 Disney Star Wars movies so far. Making that a 75% success rate. So I'm all for SOLO, Boba, Original stories via Disney..so far.

1 hour ago, Sincereagape said:

A friend of mine did a poll this morning on Facebook with essentially these questions.

1. Favorite Star Wars character?

2. Did you like Force Awakens?
3. Did you like Rogue One?

4. Did you like The Last Jedi?

5. Did you like Solo?

  1. Luke Skywalker. He is the alpha and omega of Star Wars. Everything outside his tale is apochrypha. ?
  2. I enjoyed it as a vacuous JJ Abrams spectacle / popcorn homage, but not as a meaningful Star Wars installment. More no than yes.
  3. Yes. Quite a bit.
  4. I've been waiting since 1983 for more Luke. I geekgasmed over his final chapter being told. But, the movie was uneven and often tonally didactic. More yes than no. There was a lot to like.
  5. Yes. I'm not a big Han fan, but I enjoyed the movie it enough to watch it again.

That last bit is probably key: did I like it enough to watch it again without fast forwarding a bunch ?

The yes list: A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Last Jedi, Rogue One, Revenge of the Sith, and Solo.

The ones I'd only watch "the cool parts from": The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, The Force Awakens.

Disney: 3/4.

Overall: 7/10.

Edited by Vondy

Seems to me the anthology/'story' films are experiments with genre styles ported into the Star Wars Uni. So a Kenobi film as a Noir detective story, a 'High Planes Drifter' type of western, or something even more of a departure could be fun.

I'm not hungry for a Kenobi or even a Fett story (apocryphal I know), but I'll definitely see either opening weekend. I'll take as much Star Wars as they'll give me.

I think a smarter move on Disney's part would have been/be to include known characters in something else going on. Have Boba Fett in a movie, but don't make it about him. Have a period film where something goes sideways for the characters and have Obi Wan bail their asses out.

4 hours ago, Sincereagape said:

A friend of mine did a poll this morning on Facebook with essentially these questions.

1. Favorite Star Wars character?

2. Did you like Force Awakens?
3. Did you like Rogue One?

4. Did you like The Last Jedi?

5. Did you like Solo?

Surprisingly most of the people on his thread liked all four movies and some with L3 as their favorite character. This really shocks me because most people I have interacted with in RL/Face to Face say they disliked TLJ. Personally I have enjoyed 3 out of the 4 Disney Star Wars movies so far. Making that a 75% success rate. So I'm all for SOLO, Boba, Original stories via Disney..so far.

The only movie of the franchise I genuinely thought was bad was Rogue One, and it was because the entire cast was terribly written in my opinion. They were all drab, lifeless archetypes, with on the most minimal of background given, and lots of bad dialogue. I've heard people describe it as a movie version of a Star Wars gaming table, and I agree. Because the characters were poorly written shells of a concept, loosely put together into a group because reasons, and then they wen't and blew stuff up. :P Felt EXACTLY like a bad gaming session to me.

But FA I enjoyed, and thought was really good. Not great, but really good. Last Jedi had some decent elements, about average movie quality, with some moments of greatness, but also with some really bad moments too. Solo, I thought it was just fine. Wasn't great, but did anyone really expect it to be? It was a spinoff story of one character, telling his origin. It's about as niche of a concept for a movie as you can get. I found myself genuinely laughing at several bits, enjoying most of the origin stuff they introduced (not the reason for Solo though, that was just really bad), and overall, found the movie a fun use of 2 hours of my life. Would I rush out to see it again? Nah. If my god daughters wanted me to go with them, sure thing. Would I watch it if it came on tv or streaming? Sure, as a background film it would be fine.

And while L3 wasn't my favorite character in that film, she did amuse the heck out of me in the spice mine scene. Her absolute glee at the robotic chaos she had unleashed just had me giggling in the theater.

1 hour ago, 2P51 said:

I think a smarter move on Disney's part would have been/be to include known characters in something else going on. Have Boba Fett in a movie, but don't make it about him. Have a period film where something goes sideways for the characters and have Obi Wan bail their asses out.

I wouldn't be surprised if the rumored Boba Fett movie serves in part as a loose sequel to Solo, with an extended Han and Chewie cameo and interactions with Qi'ra/Crimson Dawn.

4 minutes ago, O the Owl said:

I wouldn't be surprised if the rumored Boba Fett movie serves in part as a loose sequel to Solo, with an extended Han and Chewie cameo and interactions with Qi'ra/Crimson Dawn.

Yah I got that impression as well, but I'm wondering with the financial mess from Solo what will happen.