The most recent encounter between Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen in their roles as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker happened before Anakin’s full transformation into Darth Vader. However, Ewan McGregor felt jealous of Hayden Christensen for the silliest reason.
During an interview with Total Film, Ewan McGregor provided insights into the experience of seeing Hayden Christensen embody his character during the production of Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series. It’s noteworthy that Christensen had previously sported Darth Vader’s iconic costume in a limited number of scenes towards the conclusion of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Why Was Ewan McGregor jealous of Hayden Christensen
For many actors, taking on a role in Star Wars can be a formidable task due to the heavy reliance on special effects. This challenge was particularly pronounced during the making of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, as Lucas was extensively experimenting with CGI environments. Hayden Christensen’s theater background proved to be an asset in navigating this environment because it closely resembled what he was accustomed to.
Christenesen said (via Screenrant):
“We were filming in front of blue screens and green screens. It demands a lot of your imagination, and you don’t necessarily have all of the real stimuli there to react to. So it wasn’t such a leap for me. And I didn’t have the experience either, so it wasn’t like I was used to working a certain way. That was just what I knew.”
Ewan McGregor assumed the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Jedi Knight, in the prequel trilogy of the series. The actor played Anakin Skywalker’s mentor, who taught him to be disciplined and committed to the Force. However, one thing that Ewan McGregor didn’t like was the fact there was someone on the set who was younger than him.
McGregor joked:
“I was always the youngest one, and now I’m not so yeah…”
Ewan McGregor’s character played a crucial role throughout the Star Wars saga, offering valuable guidance and striving to maintain peace.
Ewan McGregor Made Lightsaber Noises While Filming
During the production of the iconic franchise, Ewan McGregor enjoyed an entertaining experience on set. In the original Star Wars films, which were created with relatively primitive technology, the sound effects were intended to be incorporated during the post-production phase of the movie.
In 1999, George Lucas and Ewan McGregor collaborated on the iconic film Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace. Reuniting much of the original cast, McGregor shared the screen with Liam Neeson and Natalie Portman, resulting in some memorable moments during the filming of the movie.
According to film trivia, George Lucas did not include the lightsaber sound effects during the actual filming. Ewan McGregor disclosed that he got caught up in the moment while shooting the scenes. Reflecting on this amusing anecdote, McGregor shared that he playfully imitated the lightsaber sounds to enhance the scene’s ambiance.
When questioned about providing lightsaber sounds from his own mouth, McGregor’s response was concise. It’s worth noting that the sounds were incorporated in post-production, yet Ewan McGregor appeared to genuinely relish his experience in the franchise.
