The Last Jedi Had No Role For Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan, And Here’s Why

There’s a moment in Star Wars: The Last Jedi when Rey and Luke clash over a difference of opinions.

Having journeyed across the galaxy in search of the wayward Skywalker, Daisy Ridley’s Force-sensitive hero touches down on Ahch-To filled with hope – hope that Mark Hamill’s hermit can return to save the Resistance at their most desperate hour.

That unbridled optimism soon begins to fade when Luke Skywalker details the series of unfortunate events that led him to Ahch-To in the first place, and without divulging too much, too soon, let’s just say that Rey isn’t all that pleased about the story she hears. And so, the master and the apprentice are briefly separated, during which time Rian Johnson brings us closer to the wounded, shell-shocked Luke Skywalker. Let the spoiler discussion commence – you have been warned!

Still with us? While speaking to The Playlist, Johnson touched base on The Last Jedi‘s biggest and most shocking cameo. Yes, in keeping with the spirit of Empire, Lucasfilm’s latest Star Wars film includes a surprise appearance from Yoda himself, who offers some much-needed advice to the grieving Skywalker.

And make no mistake, it had to be Yoda, as bringing Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi back to the fold wouldn’t have had the same emotional impact, necessarily.

Believe me, man. I would have loved to have had Ewan McGregor in the movie but it was just a matter of storytelling. The original relationship with Obi Wan — obviously if Alec Guinness were still with us that would have made sense. But we never saw Luke ever interact with the Ewan version of Obi Wan, so there’s less of the emotional connection and it might have been a little odd. So, it made sense and we could recreate that character [practically], so it made sense that Yoda be the one that comes back and kicks [Luke’s] butt a little.

As Johnson mentions, it’s a little disappointing that Obi-Wan wasn’t featured, particularly as McGregor’s Jedi can be heard in The Force Awakens. Perhaps we’ll see his Force ghost manifest in Episode IX? Time will tell, but for now, The Last Jedi continues to reign supreme at the global box office.