George Lucas Rejected Obi-Wan Kenobi Twist

In a recent interview celebrating the 25th anniversary of 'The Phantom Menace,' concept artist Iain McCaig revealed that George Lucas initially planned a dramatic twist involving Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. The original concept had Qui-Gon, played by Liam Neeson, ultimately adopting the name Obi-Wan after defeating Darth Maul, which would have left audiences questioning the identity of the character in the original trilogy. This change would have significantly altered the meaning of Alec Guinness’s line in 'A New Hope,' where he expresses familiarity with the name Obi-Wan. However, Lucas abandoned this idea, opting instead for a more straightforward narrative. Ewan McGregor's portrayal of Obi-Wan as a younger version of Guinness remained intact, leading to multiple sequels and a recent Disney+ series. The revelation highlights how different the Star Wars saga could have been had Lucas followed through with his original vision.