Ewan McGregor Reflects on The Mandalorian’s Negative Impact on the Epic Obi-Wan Disney+ Series

When Disney+ first launched back in 2019, they needed a big series to sell the streaming service. Since the Star Wars sequel trilogy was wrapping up, a new Star Wars series would be the perfect candidate. As reported by The Pop Verse, McGregor believed that the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries would be the Disney+ seller, but it turned out to be The Mandalorian instead. McGregor said the following at Fan Expo Chicago 2025:

“They brought out Disney+ and they wanted a big splash, and I thought that’s what we were going to be and then just before we made it, The Mandalorian came out. I thought, ‘Wait a minute, I thought we were supposed to be the big splash.’ I thought, ‘Wait a minute, what’s this, what’s this going on here?’ But there would seem to be plenty of room for all of us.”

The Mandalorian vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Of course, The Mandalorian became a massive hit. Fans instantly fell in love with Grogu, whom the internet named “Baby Yoda” long before his real name was revealed. They also loved Din Djarin’s fatherly relationship with Grogu. The Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries came out over two years after The Mandalorian. It also didn’t have any Yoda baby to make fans squeal, though it did cast a very cute child actress, Vivien Lyra Blair, to play young Princess Leia.

However, fans shouldn’t sell the Obi-Wan Kenobi series short. Ewan McGregor still gives a wonderfully heartfelt performance in the titular role. You can see how incredibly broken he is after Anakin turned to the dark side, and his relationship with young Leia is wonderful. It adds a new dimension to the story when both of the Skywalker twins have a meaningful relationship with Obi-Wan, and it also gives a clear reason why Leia would want to name her son after him later on. Of course, it’s downright heartbreaking when Obi-Wan sees what has become of Anakin.

Will Ewan McGregor Play Obi-Wan Again?

McGregor is itching for another chance to don his Jedi robes. He asked Lucasfilm to make a Season 3 of Andor so he could be in it, and he reportedly wants another season of Obi-Wan Kenobi. While The Mandalorian is getting a feature film next year, The Mandalorian and Grogu, there are currently no plans to continue Obi-Wan Kenobi. Still, fans should never lose hope. Ewan McGregor may very well pick up his lightsaber again one day.