The first end envisaged for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace changed a lot of things for the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Star Warsit is above all a mythology. A heroic and spatial tale that has grown so much that it now encompasses a universe as rich as it is infinite. And what’s fascinating about this kind of saga is all hesitations and unforeseen events which punctuated its evolution. You have most likely heard of some of these stories surrounding the production of films Star Wars and which changed its nature forever.
If purple lightsabers exist among the Jedi, it’s only because Samuel L. Jackson asked George Lucas for one. The revelation surrounding Darth Vader’s paternity was a rewrite last minute The Empire Counterattack. There have been many decisions taken on a whim that have profoundly transformed the destiny of the galaxy far, far away. And in the same vein, an astonishing twist in The Phantom Menace could have completely transformed the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi, before being deleted by Lucas.
Qui-Gon Who?
Although it has already been 25 years since George Lucas released Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menacenew secrets about this trilogy continue to be revealed. In a recent interview with storyboard artist, Iain McCaig, published on the official website StarWars.com on October 29, he recounted how Lucas had initially considered a twist for the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi. An idea that would have completely altered its mythology (and undoubtedly driven fans crazy) if it had been realized:
« It’s interesting how things have evolved. […] Basically, the old Jedi [incarné par Liam Neeson] was the one called Obi-Wan, and the young Jedi [incarné par Ewan McGregor] His name was Qui-Gon. […] In the end, after Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul, he remained by his master’s side in his final moments. He then took not only his quest to heart, but also his name. Qui-Gon became Obi-Wan.«
Star Wars rewritten
On paper, it’s a revelation that basically wouldn’t have changed much, since it’s only a question of the name. But in reality, this decision could have led to a very different characterization for the character of Ewan McGregor in the sequel films. After all, he would then have usurped the identity of his former master while carrying the burden of his inheritance in a very symbolic way. What’s more, according to McCaig, this twist was also intended to give a new reading to one of the lines from Alec Guiness’s Obi-Wan in A new hope :
“That’s why Alec Guinness in A New Hope pulls down his hood and says, “Obi-Wan? It’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time…” Because he’s not really Obi-Wan, he’s Qui-Gon. And right at the end, George changed that. »
We’re not going to lie, George Lucas probably didn’t have that in mind at all when he created the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first Star Wars. Since he had no idea who Darth Vader really was, to begin with. It’s all just one DIY work aimed at fleshing out the icons of a mythologyafter the fact.
But this work remains quite fascinating, as much for what it accomplished as for what it abandoned or missed. The creation of a saga over a very long term thus becomes a true realm of possibilities. Anything can happen and anything can even be rewritten. Looking a little deeper, the number of versions of Star Wars different ones that we could have had is quite dizzying. Finally, afterward, as they say, with “ifs” we would bottle Tatooine.
