Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stephen Daldry is in early talks for the film, which would center on the Jedi master who has been played by both Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor.
Stephen Daldry is Star Wars’ newest hope.
The Oscar-nominated director behind Billy Elliot and The Hours is in early talks to direct a Star Wars stand-alone movie centering on Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Sources say talks are at the earliest of stages and that the project has no script. If a deal makes, Daldry would oversee the development and writing with Lucasfilm brass. It's not known at this stage if Ewan McGregor will reprise his role. The Obi-Wan Kenobi stand-alone is one of several projects being developed by Lucasfilm and Disney that fall outside the trilogies telling the saga of the Skywalker family. A Han Solo movie is now in the final stages of shooting under new director Ron Howard and Lucasfilm is also looking at movies featuring Yoda and bounty hunter Boba Fett, among others.
In the original Star Wars trilogy, Kenobi was at first a desert-dwelling and war-weary hermit who later proved to be a wise and powerful warrior, brandishing a light saber. He was briefly a mentor to a young Luke before being cut down by Darth Vader, his former pupil. Alec Guinness played Kenobi, garnering him an Oscar nomination to boot. The character got star treatment in the George Lucas-directed prequels which told the origin of Vader and his betrayal of Kenobi and the Jedis. McGregor has said he would be open to playing the character again. Sources stress, however, that since there is no script, no actor is attached.
“Rogue One” was the first of the standalones, and Disney is currently shooting an untitled origin tale of beloved smuggler Han Solo. Some of the other standalones in development include a Jabba the Hutt story and a Boba Fett movie.
Daldry hails from the theater world and made his feature debut with Billy Elliot, which netted him his first directing Oscar nomination. He followed that up with searing dramas The Hours and The Reader, which also netted him directing nominations.
He most recently directed episodes of Netflix’s period drama The Crown, which put him into play in this Emmy season.
Originally Posted by Gadzooks:
It seems like it's too hard for you to give your opinion. I get it, you're being lazy.
Is it too hot over there? Drain your energy?
Obi Wan is a fantastic character and maybe the most important character in the Star Wars universe, as he not only fails to keep his apprentice from the Dark Side of the Force, he's tasked with watching over and training Luke, Anakin's son, and keeping him from falling to the Dark Side and bring Balance to the Force.
It's also quite possible that Rey is a Kenobi, which would bring even more significance to the character. [Reply]
I wonder if Star Wars would ever do a Logan esque film. This seems like the perfect opportunity for an R rated romp in the star wars universe. Unless they are saving that for a Vader or Boba Fett film. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigBeauford:
I wonder if Star Wars would ever do a Logan esque film. This seems like the perfect opportunity for an R rated romp in the star wars universe. Unless they are saving that for a Vader or Boba Fett film.
I would be shocked to see Star Wars go for an R rating on anything. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Deberg_1990:
Jar Jar origin story coming in 2032! How far down this rabbit hole do we go?
I'm in, but make it a Rated R Star Wars groundhog day where Jar Jar dies in horrible ways and then wakes up in the swamp again, ready for a fresh killing.
"Oooooh, dis'n gonna be berry berry bad mesa tinkin!" [Reply]