Ewan McGregor Thought OBI-WAN KENOBI Was Supposed to Launch Disney+
When Obi-Wan Kenobi dropped on Disney+ in 2022, the long-awaited return of Ewan McGregor as the Jedi Master didn’t quite hit the way fans expected.
The series had its moments, but it didn’t carry the same cultural impact as another Star Wars show that arrived first and ended up being a disappointment. According to McGregor, he actually thought Obi-Wan Kenobi was meant to be the series that launched the streaming service.
"They brought out Disney Plus 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," McGregor explained during a recent appearance at Fan Expo Chicago 2025.
When Disney+ launched in the U.S. on November 12, 2019, it was The Mandalorian that premiered on day one. The show was instantly embraced by critics and fans around the world, with Baby Yoda becoming a pop culture phenomenon almost overnight. By comparison, Obi-Wan Kenobi arrived three years later on May 22, 2022.
"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," McGregor added.
There definitely was room for both series, but the reception tells a different story. While Obi-Wan Kenobi was packed with nostalgia and familiar faces, it didn’t capture audiences the same way. Meanwhile, The Mandalorian quickly grew into one of the most beloved pieces of modern Star Wars.
A second season of Obi-Wan Kenobi seems unlikely at this point, but The Mandalorian continues to thrive. After three successful seasons, Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and Grogu are heading to theaters with The Mandalorian & Grogu, set to hit the big screen on May 22, 2026.
Via: Popverse