A Lifelong Fan at the Helm [00:08] Host Andi Gutierrez introduces director Deborah Chow to the Star Wars Celebration 2022 stage. Gutierrez highlights Chow’s diverse directorial background, noting she has directed zombies, vampires, gods, and even a Mandalorian. Gutierrez welcomes Chow as the director of the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series, jokingly calling her the only person brave enough to tell Darth Vader what to do. [00:46] Gutierrez opens the interview by pointing out that Chow has been a lifelong Star Wars fan, asking what it is about the franchise that has resonated with her so deeply over the years. [01:00] Chow explains her deep love for the sci-fi and fantasy genres, referring to Star Wars as “the mother ship.” She emphasizes that the sheer scale of the world-building and the intricate level of detail in the galaxy make it incredibly exciting for a director to dive into such a highly visual and imaginative world. Honoring Canon and Legacy Characters [01:19] Gutierrez asks about Chow’s approach to creating new stories for Obi-Wan and how she incorporated her personal fandom into the project. [01:32] Chow compares her experience transitioning from The Mandalorian to Obi-Wan Kenobi. While The Mandalorian explored a different timeline with new characters, Obi-Wan Kenobi deals heavily with established legacy characters. Because of this, she explains that a primary goal was to “be very respectful of the canon” and ensure everything lined up properly, while still telling a brand new story. For her, the most interesting aspect of the show is catching up with familiar, beloved characters but finding them at entirely different points in their lives. [02:03] Gutierrez follows up by asking exactly how these characters have changed since their most recent film or animated appearances. [02:17] Chow sets the scene, reminding the audience that the show takes place ten years after Revenge of the Sith. She describes it as a dark time period following the devastating events of Order 66 and the fallout with Anakin Skywalker. Coming into the series, Obi-Wan is “carrying a tremendous weight.” Chow notes that portraying a character further along in their life who is actively trying to grapple with the tragedies of the prequels was one of the biggest challenges, but also one of the coolest parts of making the show. The Impact of The Mandalorian and StageCraft [02:48] Gutierrez asks about the creative differences between working with unknown characters on The Mandalorian versus the legacy icons in Obi-Wan Kenobi. [03:02] Chow acknowledges that The Mandalorian offered a lot of freedom since they weren’t tied down by legacy expectations. However, she believes the two experiences perfectly complemented each other. “I don’t honestly think I could have done Kenobi if I hadn’t done Mandalorian first,” she admits. Working alongside Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni allowed her to absorb practical lessons, particularly regarding the revolutionary StageCraft technology, so she didn’t have to learn those massive technical hurdles from scratch when stepping into Kenobi. [03:44] Gutierrez expresses her fascination with StageCraft, often known as the Volume, and asks Chow to describe what it is like working inside that environment and how it enhances the storytelling. [03:59] Chow shares her enthusiasm for the technology, noting that during the first season of The Mandalorian, they were at the advent of it and figuring it out for the first time. She points out that the technology advanced so rapidly that they were able to pull off things on Kenobi that were impossible just a few years earlier. Having that prior experience meant that while developing the Kenobi scripts, Chow was already visualizing StageCraft. She could evaluate if a scene made sense for the technology and intentionally shape the writing to “use the strengths of the volume.” Deepening the Character of Obi-Wan [04:44] Gutierrez asks what Chow hopes Star Wars fans will ultimately take away from watching the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. [04:52] Chow explains that the biggest objective was to utilize the limited series format to “have more time and get deeper into the character of Obi-Wan.” By slowing down and taking more time with him, she hopes fans feel that they truly get to know these characters in a much deeper way than they previously did. Looking to the Future [05:17] Gutierrez concludes the interview by asking if there are any specific characters, planets, or ships that the lifelong fan in Chow is itching to get her hands on next. [05:31] Chow answers humbly, stating that between her work on both shows, she feels she has already had an “embarrassment of riches.” She feels incredibly fortunate for the elements she has been allowed to work with on Kenobi. Still, she adds that the beauty of Star Wars is that the timeline and the galaxy are so massive that there is always another story to tell. [05:51] Gutierrez thanks Chow for stopping by, reminds the audience that everyone will be gathering together to watch the premiere that night, and the crowd gives Chow one more round of applause.