The Return to Star Wars [00:05] Host Anthony Carboni introduces Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen to the stage at Star Wars Celebration 2022. He notes that it has been 20 years since their iconic roles in Attack of the Clones. The crowd erupts into cheers that last for over a minute. [01:32] Carboni expresses his amazement at seeing the two actors together again, noting that just a few years ago, he would not have expected them to be sitting on stage discussing a new show. [02:40] Carboni asks how it feels to return to these characters after two decades. [02:52] McGregor takes the lead, describing the entire experience as “so exciting.” He recalls wrapping their last film together in Sydney in 2003 and how he never imagined they would be sitting on a stage together today. He mentions the long journey of four or five years to get the Obi-Wan Kenobi series made and expresses his joy that they can finally share it, saying, “it becomes yours and that makes us feel really, really great.” Preparing for Vader [03:44] Carboni asks Christensen about his preparation for the role, specifically regarding the rumor that he watched the animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels to get back into character. [04:32] Christensen confirms that he did as much research as possible to re-familiarize himself with the universe. He highly praises the work of Dave Filoni and the animation teams. “They did a lot more with these characters and that was fascinating to get to watch,” Christensen explains. While he notes he isn’t entirely sure how specifically it affected his performance, he says he is very glad he watched them and declares, “I’m a fan now too.” Reuniting on Set [05:13] The host shifts the focus to what it felt like for McGregor and Christensen to step back into these roles and work alongside each other again. [05:25] Christensen answers first, calling the experience “amazing” and “the coolest thing to get to come back and work with Ewan again.” He emphasizes that their return is a direct result of fan support, telling the crowd, “We get to do this because of all of you.” The Changing Reception of the Prequels [05:52] Carboni points out the massive amount of love the fans are showing for the prequel films. He asks if they were surprised by the shifting reaction as the original audience grew up and lived with the movies. [06:12] McGregor acknowledges that the appreciation took a while to materialize. He points out that when the prequels originally released, there was no social media or direct link to the audience. The core fans at the time were mostly younger. “It was tricky at first,” McGregor admits, but over recent years, he has felt the incredible warmth for the films they made. He states that the fan reception “meant a lot to me personally” and was a driving reason why they decided to make the new series. Bridging the Character Gaps [06:55] The conversation moves to the character arcs in the new show. Carboni asks McGregor how Obi-Wan transforms from the happy, swashbuckling Jedi we saw previously to the state he is in during the new series. [07:25] McGregor points out that the tragic end of Revenge of the Sith sets the stage. His goal was to “bridge a gap between my last work as Obi-Wan and then Alec Guinness in A New Hope.” He credits director Deborah Chow for her “singular vision” in guiding the series, noting that the project was originally conceived as a movie before evolving into a television show. [08:13] Carboni then asks Christensen what fans can expect from his transition into Darth Vader and how the character is evolving. [08:32] Christensen highlights the complexity of the role, stating, “That’s what makes this character so compelling, is there is that duality that’s present and there is that sort of inner conflict of self-identity.” He expresses how thrilling it has been to continue his journey and explore Darth Vader at this specific point in the timeline. Final Messages to the Fans [09:25] With the premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi just hours away, Carboni asks for any final messages for the crowd before they wrap up. [09:40] Christensen pauses and delivers his iconic line from Revenge of the Sith, telling the roaring audience, “This is where the fun begins.” [09:48] Carboni concludes the interview, thanking McGregor and Christensen for coming by and sending them off with a classic “May the Force be with you.”