Star Wars
It was back in 1999 when Episode I: The Phantom Menace, a film that would give life to the new narrative cycle of Star Wars in the cinema, was released in theaters. The reactions of the public and critics were mixed and over the years there has been heavy criticism of George Lucas' new works. Ewan McGregor recently spoke on the issue and explained why, in his view, the prequel trilogy was hated by critics.Ewan McGregor on why the prequel trilogy was hated
"I think the critics wanted to feel like they did when they were seven or eight, finding the same structure as the original trilogy, and in their opinion they couldn't get it," Obi-Wan Kenobi's interpreter told microphones of GQ. "I have been left with this negative reaction for years and it was only when I started meeting people who loved Star Wars that I realized how important the prequel trilogy was to them."
The two actors have returned to play their respective characters in Obi-Wan Kenobi, a series for Disney + which airs in May. Although it was designed as a stand-alone series, according to some there is a strong possibility that a second season will be announced in the future.
From the point of view of the timeline, therefore, there would still be room for new stories on Obi-Wan before arriving at the version of Sir Alec Guinness in Episode IV: A New Hope, but the concern of the fans is that of being faced with something forced.
‘Star Wars’: Ewan McGregor Shares His Theory on Why Critics Panned the Prequels
Ewan McGregor has expressed his feelings toward the Star Wars prequels while promoting Obi-Wan Kenobi. Critics were not too kind to the prequel movies when they first came out, but fans have developed a recent appreciation of them. Ewan McGregor addresses the harsh reaction from critics toward the prequels and shares his theory for why critics felt that way.
Ewan McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the ‘Star Wars’ prequels
George Lucas returned to direct the prequel trilogy, which explored the old days of the Jedi before the Empire took over the galaxy. In Episode I — The Phantom Menace, Ewan McGregor makes his Star Wars debut as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Throughout the trilogy, Obi-Wan trains Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), who eventually falls to the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader.
In an interview with GQ, McGregor acknowledges that the prequel movies are quite different than the original Star Wars trilogy. While that’s arguably for better or worse, Mcgregor respects the creative risks that Lucas took with this trilogy.
“I admire George for having tried to do something different with them,” McGregor said. “He didn’t just set out to make another three Star Wars films that felt like the original ones. I respected him for that. I think that’s ballsy and interesting.”
McGregor shares his theory for why critics didn’t like the prequelsMcgregor has shared in past interviews that he enjoys the prequels more since fans seem to love them. However, that wasn’t the case when the prequel movies first came out, and many critics and Star Wars fans had divided reactions. Ewan McGregor explained his theory to GQ about why critics panned Star Wars prequels when they premiered.
“I think the critics just wanted to feel like they were seven or eight again, and they didn’t get that,” he shared. “So I was left with that [reaction] for years and years, and it took [until I started] meeting people, and I realized how important our films have been to them.”
Lucas has always stated that Star Wars movies are meant for kids. Each trilogy has a different meaning for the generation that grew up with them. Adults at the time of the prequels may not respond to them as fondly as kids who grew up with them do because they have a fondness for them. The Disney sequel trilogy is divisive for many Star Wars fans, but kids now could love them later as adults.
McGregor returned to ‘Star Wars’ in the ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ seriesEwan McGregor’s new love for the prequels could have influenced him to return to Star Wars for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. The series recently wrapped up its six-episode run, and Star Wars fans were delighted to see the return of both McGregor and Christensen.
The show followed Obi-Wan after the events of the prequels, and he is now in hiding on Tatooine. However, when he is pulled back out for a dangerous mission, he comes face-to-face with his former padawan and his past failures.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is now streaming on Disney+.
RELATED: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Was Originally Planned to Be a Movie Trilogy Before Moving to Disney+