Screenwriter Stuart Beattie, whose credits include Collateral and Interceptorspoke about his involvement in what was originally intended to be a film trilogy centered on the star wars Obi-Wan Kenobi character.
Indeed, during a recent interview with Nathan Johnson of The Direct, Beattie, who is credited as a writer on several Disney+ episodes Obi Wan Kenobi series – explained what happened to the original plans and how it left him “absolutely devastated”. Per Beattie, the series is based on what he wrote to be the first film in a trilogy.
The first planned film, from Beattie’s angle, was intended to show the importance of surrendering “to the will of the Force.” The second, meanwhile, would provide new backstory in the character’s later developments (namely his act of self-sacrifice in A new hope) by showing him in control of his own mortality.
“So for me, if I have anything to do with the second season of [Obi-Wan], it’s the evolution of the character that I would take it on,” Beattie said. “That, to me, is really interesting. And like I said, universal.
Although details of details for a planned third film were not disclosed, Beattie said Ewan McGregor was attached to the idea of the trilogy. Performance not up to expectations Solo: A Star Wars Storyhowever, eventually resulted in these ideas being incorporated into a series.
“You know, unfortunately, it’s just, it was Solo that changed the direction of the system,” Beattie said, adding that while he himself loved Solo— he “didn’t make a lot of money” and thus marked the beginning of a change in strategy.
“But, just because it didn’t hit a certain number, they just had to rethink,” Beattie said. “And, again, well above my salary, but it certainly crushed us. Devastated, absolutely devastated.
Read the full interview here.
With last week’s Disney+ release of “Part VI,” directed by Deborah Chow and with a “story by” credit from Beattie, the first season of Obi Wan Kenobi has ended. The series, notably, also features the return of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader.
Both McGregor and Christensen have expressed interest in returning for more episodes, although Chow was adamant in a recent entertainment tonight interview that the series was designed to serve as a true limited series.