Disney+’s The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have got the new world of Star Wars TV shows off to a winning start, with the series well-received by both fans and critics alike. However, attention is already starting to turn to the future and Obi-wan Kenobi represents an intriguing proposition. Ewan McGregor is back as the iconic Jedi Master and there are set to be revelations galore as fans revisit the time period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
It promises to be rather exciting – so it’s time for some pondering. There are some characters alive after the events of Order 66 and a few of them stand a chance of making an appearance in Disney’s latest project from a galaxy far, far away.
Updated on May 17th, 2022, by Shawn S. Lealos: With Obi-Wan Kenobi almost here for its Disney+ streaming debut, Star Wars fans are excitedly looking forward to seeing who might show up in the new series. This takes place after Obi-Wan left Anakin Skywalker for dead in Revenge of the Sith, so there are plenty of characters alive at that time who could show up in the new series.
There have also been news leaks that some characters are coming back, including Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Darth Vader, and that has fans wondering who else could show up, either on Tattoonie or off-planet, as Obi-Wan is expected to go on an adventure in the series where he could meet bounty hunters, scoundrels, or other Jedis, before finally setting down as the hermit who met Luke Skywalker years later.
Characters Who Will Appear In Obi-Wan Kenobi
Darth Vader
Let’s start with the obvious. It’s already been revealed Hayden Christensen will be reprising his role of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in Kenobi, nearly two decades on from his last appearance in Episode III. They could have just used a body double for scenes as Vader but the fact Disney has gone through the effort to get Christensen suggests viewers will be seeing the iconic villain without his helmet on.
Some have pondered whether Kenobi will actually be a duel-perspective show, telling the story through the eyes of both the Jedi Master and his fallen apprentice. Alternatively, flashbacks could be used to show Anakin and Obi-Wan’s camaraderie during their young years. Either way, fans are all for it.
Grand Inquisitor
Obi-Wan Kenobi had lots of adventures outside of the Star Wars movies, and many of them took place in animated series like The Clone Wars. The biggest evil in the world of animation was The Grand Inquisitor, who was in The Clone Wars before anyone knew him by that name.
He became a great threat in Rebels, where Darth Vader ordered him to hunt down all the children of the Force and finish them off. This puts him in the perfect spot to face Obi-Wan in the Disney+ series. As a matter of fact, The Grand Inquisitor will appear in the series, played by Rupert Friend, but it is unknown what role he will play.
Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru, and Luke Skywalker
Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru received a baby Luke Skywalker to watch over after Padme delivered her twins and died. This couple was tasked with one purpose – to protect Anakin Skywalker’s son and keep him safe, and they did so until they died in an attack.
This means that they were just a short distance away from where Obi-Wan Kenobi lived when he was watching out for the young future Jedi Master on Tattoonie. They will, in fact, appear in the Obi-Wan series, as actors Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse will return to the roles that they played in the prequels. Grant Feely has also signed on to play a young Luke Skywalker in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Characters Who Could Appear In Obi-Wan Kenobi
Han Solo
Han Solo was on Tatooine at just the right time in A New Hope. He was there to hopefully settle a debt with Jabba the Hutt, although he had to kill a bounty hunter sent for him named Greedo first. Since Han owed Jabba money, he had clearly been to the planet before.
While Han didn’t seem to recognize an older Obi-Wan Kenobi, that does not mean that they had not met before. Han was in his 20s when this series took place, and there is reportedly an Easter egg of a man standing with a blaster that looked just like Han’s from the movies.
Din Djarin
Din Djarin was clearly an active Mandalorian at the time that Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place. As proven in The Book of Boba Fett, Star Wars loves to pull out fan favorites to try to make fans happy with their appearances. There is no reason to think that they wouldn’t have Din Djarin appear in Obi-Wan too.
As The Mandalorian showed, it took place after Return of the Jedi, so that is long after the events of this story. However, Din Djarin was active for years before the events in Return of the Jedi and he could still possibly show up as a young warrior on Obi-Wan for fan service.
Jabba the Hutt
The most likely unannounced character that could show up in Obi-Wan is Jabba the Hutt. At the time of Obi-Wan coming to Tattooine and Luke Skywalker going to live with his uncle and aunt, Jabba the Hutt was using his thugs to shake down moisture farmers.
They also tried to shake down Uncle Owen in the Extended Universe stories. While these are not canon with the current shows, The Book of Boba Fett showed that they can bring in the characters anyway and make them canon. Seeing Jabba try to shake down Owen and Obi-Wan saving him could be a fun callback to the EU.
Emperor Palpatine
It seemed as though Revenge of the Sith was going to be the last time Ian McDiarmid would play the iconic Emperor Palpatine, especially given his death in Return of the Jedi. But the Sith Lord was brought back for The Rise of Skywalker, proving to be a formidable antagonist with Rey and the Resistance just about being able to reign supreme.
If Vader is back, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Palpatine will return in some way as well. After all, he’s the one in charge of the Empire and he’ll likely want to hunt all remaining Order 66 survivors down. He didn’t have much to do with Kenobi in the prequel trilogy and it’d be fascinating to see how he’d react to the Jedi being on the loose.
Grand Moff Tarkin
Sticking with the bad guys leads to Grand Moff Tarkin. Like Palpatine, he wasn’t expected to ever appear again after perishing in A New Hope on board the first Death Star. But CGI was used to bring Peter Cushing’s character back to the big screen in 2016’s Rogue One and, given how successful this was, another appearance may be on the cards.
Tarkin worked closely with Vader in the years after the Sith Lord’s defeat to Kenobi on Mustafar and may have a keen interest in hunting McGregor’s man down, especially given how it would boost his own standing within the Empire. As his brutal execution of Orson Krennic in Rogue One shows, that’s all he really cares about.
Boba Fett
Boba Fett, who recently returned from the dead in The Mandalorian, first appears in Attack of the Clones as a youngster. He then cameos in The Clone Wars as a teenager and around the time period Obi-Wan Kenobi is set (which is 10 years after Revenge of the Sith), he’d be entering his prime as a Bounty Hunter. Therefore, the possibility of him popping up is definitely worth thinking about.
Vader used Boba in The Empire Strikes Back as he chased Luke Skywalker down and that wasn’t their first team-up. With the Sith Lord previously calling upon the son of Jango Fett, it’s possible he’ll use him to try and pursue Obi-Wan. Boba’s getting a TV show of his own, entitled The Book of Boba Fett, and that’s another that’ll definitely be on fans’ viewing list.
Cal Kestis
Cal Kestis is a relatively new Star Wars character. He was introduced in the Jedi: Fallen Order video game that hit shelves towards the end of 2019 and, due to the fact he’s portrayed by Cameron Monaghan, there was even talk of him appearing in The Mandalorian. That ultimately didn’t happen yet an appearance further down the line can’t be ruled out.
Kenobi may need some help from fellow Order 66 survivors during his years lying low and Cal may be a big help given his strength with the Force. It’s unsure how the duo’s paths would cross but that’s something for the Disney execs to think over if they’re to go down that route.
Yoda
Obi-Wan and Yoda are quite the double act in Revenge of the Sith, with both men surviving their respective battles with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. While Obi-Wan opted to lie low on the sunny sandy shores of Tatooine, Yoda hid on Dagobah to avoid imperial detection. It was probably a wise move given how desolate that planet is.
They don’t have phones in Star Wars but both men could use the Force to communicate, helping each other survive their time away from the rest of the galaxy. They could even end up crossing paths again, which is certainly a mouthwatering proposition. After all, Yoda returned in The Last Jedi so another appearance would be pretty epic to see.
Qui-Gon Jinn
Qui-Gon Jinn trained Kenobi but couldn’t mentor his apprentice in later life due to his heartbreaking death in The Phantom Menace, which comes via Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber on the planet of Naboo. However, in Revenge of the Sith, it’s revealed Qui-Gon had mastered the ability to become a Force ghost.
It’s assumed Kenobi interacted with his master using the Force while on Tatooine and recent comments made by Liam Neeson make for interesting reading. He confirmed he’d be up for playing the Jedi again – while also insisting he hadn’t been contacted. But that’s what he would say, with Disney known for keeping their cards close to their chest…
Ahsoka Tano
The final series of The Clone Wars in 2020 explained how Ahsoka Tano was able to survive Order 66. In short, she cut down every Clone Trooper who turned on her with the exception of close friend Rex, who she was able to stop from becoming a servant for the Empire. She recently made her live-action debut in The Mandalorian, helping Din Djarin and revealing The Child’s real name to be Grogu.
Ahsoka is one of the most popular Star Wars characters in existence. She’ll be getting her own TV show but Disney may decide to bring her in on multiple projects. With an actress like Rosario Dawson on board, it would be something of a waste to limit her appearances in the saga.
Bail Organa
Bail Organa was a popular character in the prequels, despite not always being center stage. Played by Jimmy Smits, he initially comes across as just another member of the Galactic Senate. But he shows courage in the face of adversity after the downfall of the Jedi, helping Obi-Wan and Yoda begin their new lives while also agreeing to adopt Leia Organa following Padmé Amidala’s death.
Jimmy Smits’ character returned to the big screen in Rogue One and another cameo would satisfy many. As mentioned above, Kenobi is likely going to need some help to prevent Vader and the Empire from hunting down. And he’s a familiar face with the qualities required to help the hero get out of whatever trouble he finds himself in.
Leia Organa
This seems admittedly far-fetched. Both Luke and Leia aren’t important to the galaxy in the years before A New Hope, instead, living relatively normal childhoods on the respective planets of Tatooine and Alderaan. Yet while that’s the case, it would be a real Disney-like move to include Leia in a cameo.
Imagine her being close to Vader and him being unable to sense her presence. Or what if she is in the background should Obi-Wan encounter Bail Organa on his travels? There are so many possibilities – and involving one of the biggest characters in the entire series would be a masterstroke.
