Obi-Wan Kenobi Trailer Brings Back Luke, Grand Inquisitor & Duel of the Fates

The first Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer is officially released. After years of endless rumors, Ewan McGregor’s long-awaited return as the iconic Jedi was confirmed in 2019. At one point, the idea was to make an Obi-Wan spinoff movie, but the project was reworked as a TV miniseries for Disney+. In addition to McGregor reprising his prequel role, Obi-Wan Kenobi also sees Hayden Christensen come back to play Darth Vader. The Mandalorian’s Deborah Chow is directing.

In typical Lucasfilm fashion, Obi-Wan Kenobi story details are being kept under wraps for the time being, increasing anticipation for the series. Marketing materials such as an Obi-Wan Kenobi sizzle reel featuring concept art and the show’s first poster provided glimpses at what viewers can expect. Now, with the Obi-Wan Kenobi release date fast approaching, the time has come for the trailer.

As the Obi-Wan Kenobi marketing campaign fully commenced with a collection of new still images and minor story/character details, Lucasfilm continued the promotional efforts by releasing the first trailer. The video debuted during the latest Disney Investor Call.

The trailer establishes Obi-Wan’s damaged psyche, as the former Jedi is clearly still shaken from the events of Revenge of the Sith. Stating, “The fight is done. We lost,” Obi-Wan is seemingly resigned to defeat as he lives out his days in exile on Tatooine, watching over a young Luke Skywalker. Unfortunately, he will have to deal with the Inquisitors. More light is shed on Obi-Wan Kenobi’s villains, with Star Wars Rebels’ Grand Inquisitor making the leap from animation to live-action. In the aftermath of the Clone Wars and Order 66, the Inquisitors hunted down surviving Jedi, so they’ll be searching for Kenobi. Moses Ingram’s Inquisitor Revas is seen on Tatooine encountering Uncle Owen, so it will be interesting to see if she crosses paths with Obi-Wan and what forces Obi-Wan to leave the desert world.

Darth Vader’s breathing can be heard at the end of the trailer, though the iconic character isn’t seen onscreen. At least in the early stages of marketing, it would appear Lucasfilm is choosing to focus more on the Inquisitors as the general threat, saving Vader’s role for a surprise when Obi-Wan Kenobi debuts. That seems like a smart strategy, since McGregor’s return and classic Star Wars iconography (like the Lars family homestead) are enough familiar elements to build anticipation for the series without revealing too much. Like most major franchises, Star Wars is renowned for its level of secrecy in advertising, and Obi-Wan Kenobi is no exception. With Chow at the helm, hopefully this will make for a strong companion piece to the Skywalker saga.