Think about what it should really feel like to seem within the first Star Wars movie in 20 years solely to appreciate that everybody thinks it’s the worst factor since Hitler. That’s exactly what occurred to Ewan McGregor and the remainder of the Phantom Menace forged in 1999. Again then, should you had been a struggling actor and counted on the galaxy far, distant to be your Hail Mary move in Hollywood, you’ll’ve been sorely disenchanted, as a result of that first film was something however well-received. We will snigger and joke and share these innumerable prequel trilogy memes on Reddit now, however for many who lived by it, the expertise of being part of the ensemble that made The Phantom Menace a factor was hell; a career-ender that instantly turned its forged into Public Enemy No. 1.
However don’t simply take my phrase for it. McGregor was apparently reluctant to proceed enjoying Obi-Wan, particularly after the primary movie was “hammered.” As he defined it lately, per Selection:
“It wasn’t a accomplished deal for me. I didn’t assume it was in any respect who I used to be. I believed, at that time, I used to be a Danny Boyle actor. The Seashore was extra necessary and I meant it, it wasn’t flippant. I did ask lots of people for recommendation. I’m glad that I’m this character for lots of people, however when these movies got here out, they had been so disliked. That was arduous. The primary one was panned and we nonetheless needed to make one other two! It was bizarre to be in a movie that was hammered.”
However… all’s nicely that ends nicely, proper? McGregor might have dreaded his legacy whereas enjoying Obi-Wan within the prequels, however these days can solely be appeared again on with fondness once you occur to be one of the beloved characters in Star Wars historical past. And I feel, all issues thought of, McGregor was one of many fortunate ones, as a result of not everybody made it out of that maelstrom in addition to he did.
McGregor continued so as to add that he’d be all the way down to return for Obi-Wan Kenobi, however “there’s no discuss of it but. There’s a lot occurring at Disney.”