By Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
The Force is strong with this show.
Disney+ announced Monday who will be joining Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen on “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and the cast includes “Star Wars” alums, a Marvel superhero, a “Game of Thrones” star and more.
Directed by Deborah Chow, “Obi-Wan Kenobi” is set 10 years after the events of “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,” the 2005 film that saw Anakin Skywalker turn against his mentor and become Darth Vader. Chow’s “Star Wars” resume includes directing two episodes of “The Mandalorian’s first season, as well as a cameo playing an X-Wing pilot in the “Star Wars” spinoff series.
Described as a “special event series,” the Disney+ original will see McGregor reprise his role as the titular Jedi Master and, as previously announced, Christensen’s return as Darth Vader.
Joining the two on the show are Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie. The series will start filming in April.
Character details have yet to be revealed, but Edgerton and Piesse previously played Owen and Beru Lars, respectively, in “Revenge of the Sith” and “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones” (2002). Owen is Anakin’s stepbrother who, with his wife, Beru, raised Luke Skywalker.
Other cast members include Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma (“Game of Thrones”), Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr. (“Straight Outta Compton”), Sung Kang (Han of “Fast and Furious” films) and Moses Ingram (“The Queen’s Gambit”).
Chow and McGregor also serve as executive producers on “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” along with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan and writer Joby Harold.