The Star Wars franchise is recognized as one of the most iconic and culturally significant film series ever produced. It has not only achieved mainstream success but has also attained a unique and unparalleled status in the realm of media. With that said, it appears Ewan McGregor was advised not to take up his iconic role by another Star Wars star.
Many fans concur that the original Star Wars trilogy, which includes A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, is the standout trilogy within the entire saga. Its lasting influence is apparent, as it continues to shape and inspire various forms of entertainment across all mediums even to this day.
Ewan McGregor Was Told By Another Star Wars Actor to Not Portray His Legendary Role
Denis Lawson, who played Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy, is one of the lesser-known actors from the franchise who departed with some regret. While Wedge Antilles is appreciated by more dedicated fans, the role itself was somewhat thankless and unremarkable.
In a 2020 interview, Ewan McGregor, Lawson’s nephew and eventual star of the prequel trilogy, mentioned, “He was always really dismissive of [‘Star Wars’] because he did a couple of weeks of work, sitting in a cardboard spaceship […] and yet he had this massive following. It sort of annoyed him.”
While Lawson has clarified in other interviews that he doesn’t harbor hatred towards the franchise, he has expressed considerable frustration with how the brief role he did in the ’70s/early ’80s has overwhelmingly overshadowed his impressive work in other films. In a 2017 interview with the Scottish Field, he stated, “I get bored with journalists asking me about ‘Star Wars,’ and somehow that has been transposed over into me hating the films.”
This frustration is a sentiment shared by many artists over the years, with Michael Keaton of Batman fame even making a whole movie about it in 2014 with Birdman. Lawson wanted to spare Ewan McGregor from such frustration, as McGregor recalled via (Slash Films),
“He was one of the people who said, ‘Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it.’ And then the nearer I got to it, the more I wanted to do it.”
Although McGregor is likely most recognized for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi, it hasn’t cast as large a shadow over his career as it did for his uncle. From Fargo to Christopher Robin, Doctor Sleep, and Birds of Prey, McGregor has provided us with numerous entertaining mainstream roles to discuss over the years.
Ewan McGregor Was Hesitant to Portray Obi-Wan Kenobi
Portraying Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars universe catapulted Ewan McGregor’s career, becoming the most recognizable role in his professional life. However, initially, the actor did not feel drawn to the character and doubted his ability to pull it off. McGregor shared his reservations about taking up the role with Variety.
He mentioned that, at the time, he didn’t believe he should star in a big-budget studio film. Instead, he felt more comfortable working on Danny Boyle’s smaller projects like Trainspotting and The Beach (for which he was initially cast in the lead role).
“It wasn’t a done deal for me. I didn’t think it was at all who I was. I believed, at that point, I was a Danny Boyle actor. ‘The Beach’ was more important and I meant it, it wasn’t flippant. I did ask a lot of people for advice.”
I am happy that I am this character for a lot of people, but when these films came out, they were so disliked. That was hard. The first one was panned and we still had to make another two! It was weird to be in a film that was hammered.”
Ewan McGregor also acknowledged the negative reception to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and the awkwardness of starring in two more films in the franchise after experiencing fan backlash.
