Ewan McGregor Discusses Impact of Brutal Reviews on His Star Wars Prequel Years

Ewan McGregor has been associated with one of cinema’s most polarizing trilogies for nearly three decades, portraying a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in all three ‘Star Wars’ prequels and later reprising the role in a beloved Disney+ series. This long-standing connection with the character has provided McGregor with valuable insights into how audience perceptions of the prequels have shifted over the years, transforming from severe criticism to heartfelt nostalgia.

During an appearance at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, McGregor candidly discussed this complex history, reflecting on his initial decision to take on the role and the challenging experience of witnessing the films receive harsh critiques upon their release. He openly described that period as personally difficult.

Speaking openly about the experience at the festival, McGregor characterized the reaction to the films as “weird and hard,” sharing how it felt to commit to such a significant project only to see it criticized almost immediately after its debut. He mentioned that he ultimately “learned a lot about not giving a shit” due to that backlash, a mindset that influenced his career approach in the years that followed.

The negative reception also had a lasting impact on McGregor’s relationship with the fan community. According to Cosmic Book News, he revealed that he avoided ‘Star Wars’ conventions for years afterward, sensing that fans were not fond of the films and believing it was better to stay away than to engage in potentially unwelcome interactions.

However, this avoidance did not last indefinitely. McGregor noted a significant change in his relationship with fans following the premiere of ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ in 2022, recalling the overwhelming response from the audience when the first two episodes were released. He described this moment as a completely new experience, stating he had never encountered such enthusiastic reactions directed at him before.

McGregor also reflected on the pressure he felt while trying to embody Alec Guinness’s portrayal of the character during the original prequel trilogy. He admitted that he spent much of that time striving to play a younger version of the iconic actor. He found that the role felt far more natural when he returned to it in the Disney+ series, as his age at that point was much closer to where Guinness had been when he first took on the role.

Beyond the backlash, McGregor shared how challenging the initial decision to join the franchise was. He recalled reaching out to respected friends and mentors, including director Danny Boyle and his uncle, actor Dennis Lawson, for advice before ultimately deciding to take on the project, despite not initially viewing himself as the type of actor suited for a franchise like ‘Star Wars’.

With decades of hindsight, McGregor’s appearance at the Edinburgh festival provided a rare, unfiltered insight into how profoundly the prequels’ initial reception affected him, even as those same films have since garnered a passionate, nostalgic audience among fans who grew up with them.

His openness was particularly striking amidst a wide-ranging conversation that also covered his career, his ties to Scotland, and the possibility of ever playing James Bond.

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