The upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+ will feel more “real” than the Star Wars prequels did, says actor Ewan McGregor. McGregor is returning to the role after a hiatus of over 15 years since the premiere of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and there is a lot of anticipation leading up to the series. One thing that fans and critics are curious to see is how the same character (and actor) will look in the same galaxy as before, but with improved special effect technology.
It has become apparent that a lot has changed in the world of Star Wars since McGregor last took to the role in 2005. Following the prequel series, the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi continued to make canonical appearances in the Cartoon Network TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where animation allowed for far more creative liberties to be taken in terms of special effects and stunts. The sequel trilogy also demonstrated an upgrade in special effect technology since the prequels, and the Disney+ series The Mandalorian was the first to introduce Stagecraft technology, a system of massive LED monitors that surround the actors and create an immersive backdrop for a realistic setting.
In a recent profile with THR, McGregor discusses how the Obi-Wan series will use the same Stagecraft technology that Jon Favreau used for The Mandalorian. McGregor also explains that this technology makes the series feel more ‘real’, comparing it to the prequels, which were notorious for their usage of green screen and CGI.
“They project [the virtual backgrounds] onto this massive LED screen. So if you’re in a desert, you’re standing in the middle of a desert. If you’re in the snow, you’re surrounded by snow. And if you’re in a cockpit of a starfighter, you’re in space. It’s going to feel so much more real.”
McGregor did not downplay his relief in the change. The prequels were, and still are, criticised heavily for the cast’s performances, and McGregor is among the names of actors who some believe did not deliver well. However, considering most of the scenes of the trilogy were filmed entirely in front of a green screen for months on end, it makes sense that the actors would eventually lose the sense of connection with the setting they are supposedly in. Stagecraft technology eliminates that disconnect by fully immersing the actors inside of the world—or, galaxy—they are acting in.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will take place 8 years after the events of Episode III, meaning that when we finally catch up with McGregor’s iconic character, Kenobi will be well-settled into his new home on Tatooine. However, even though Tatooine has proven to be a rather dull Star Wars setting, fans can expect Obi-Wan to venture out at least a little bit after McGregor teased that Stagecraft technology has put his character into the cockpit of a starfighter. However, considering so much is not yet known about the series, fans still have to wait a while longer for definitive answers.
Source: THR
Originally from https://screenrant.com/obi-wan-star-wars-prequels-filming-comparison/