Who is the Obi-Wan Kenobi cast? One of the best Star Wars characters finally got a TV series all his own. Ewan McGregor returned to a galaxy far, far away to portray Obi-Wan Kenobi for Disney Plus, and he wasn’t the only franchise alumnus to pop up in his old robes.
Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Star Wars character Anakin Skywalker’s descent to the Dark Side in the Prequel Trilogy, donned the black helmet once more to be Darth Vader. The sci-fi series added context to our understanding of the Skywalker Saga, giving us a keen look at Obi-Wan Kenobi and Vader years before the Rebellion finally manage to start sticking it to the Galactic Empire.
Several other heroes and Star Wars villains joined the Obi-Wan Kenobi cast – the main antagonists are straight from animated series Rebels, further adding to the established Star Wars timeline. Who are all these characters, though? After all, we could be seeing them quite a bit in the coming years. Put down your hands, Jedi mind tricks are no good here, just some good old-fashioned pop culture knowledge.
Ewan McGregor – Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ewan McGregor’s turn as Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the few things Star Wars fans unanimously enjoyed about the Prequel Trilogy. Now, over 15 years since he hung up his lightsaber, he returned, looking over Luke Skywalker and fending off the Empire.
Besides a galaxy far, far away, you might know McGregor from his work in the Trainspotting drama movies, or horror movie Doctor Sleep. He joined the DCEU in 2020 with Birds of Prey, and has popped up in Disney movies Beauty and the Beast and Christopher Robin. A Jedi’s work is never done, and McGregor takes that to heart.
Hayden Christensen – Darth Vader
Finally, Hayden Christensen, who depicted Anakin Skywalker’s downfall to the Dark Side and the Sith, got to play Darth Vader well and proper. In Obi-Wan Kenobi, Vader faced his former Master, with Christensen clothed in the legendary black armour and breathing apparatus.
After the science fiction movie Revenge of the Sith in 2005, Christensen kept acting but in less mainstream roles. He’s starred in several smaller-budget films, like Factory Girl and Vanishing on 7th Street. He did have another go at a franchise with the superhero-adjacent Jumper, but low box-office returns put an end to that.
Rupert Friend – The Grand Inquisitor
Rupert Friend brought another character from animation to live-action with the Grand Inquisitor. Dedicated fans will recognise him as a central villain in Rebels, one of the Jedi hunters personally instructed by Darth Vader to make sure Order 66 is completed to the fullest.
A regular TV actor, Friend, was part of the main cast of Homeland for five of its eight seasons. Elsewhere, he’s appeared in Strange Angel and Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal. He’s had numerous film credits as well, with The French Dispatch and 2018 festival darling At Eternity’s Gate among them.
Moses Ingram – Reva Sevander, the Third Sister
Right alongside the Grand Inquisitor is Moses Ingram as Reva Sevander, also known as the Third Sister. She’s a methodical, ruthless assassin but, by the end of the Star Wars series, her morality was less obvious than it had been in her early villainy.
This Disney Plus show was Ingram’s second major streaming service production, after rising to fame in Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit. She’s been in several top class films as well, including Michael Bay’s thriller movie Ambulance and Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Sung Kang – The Fifth Brother
The Grand Inquisitor isn’t the only part of the Rebels show that’s making the jump to live-action. Sung Kang is playing The Fifth Brother, a vicious killer who’s known for tracking down tougher targets. In Rebels, that’s Ahsoka Tano, here, it’s one of the most revered Jedi Masters around.
Should be no bother for a member of the Fast and Furious crew. Kang recently returned to the big screen, as Fast and Furious character Han. Expect The Fifth Brother to live life a quarter mile at a time.
Joel Edgerton – Owen Lars
Poor uncle Owen, he’s just a quiet moisture farmer who’s trying to give Luke Skywalker a good life. Unfortunately, the Skywalkers are cursed, and we all know how this ends for Anakin’s half-brother. Joel Edgerton managed to bring some depth to an under-explored character.
A tenured actor, some of Edgerton’s more recent performances include The Green Knight, Red Sparrow, and Bright. Like Christensen and McGregor, he came back after working on the Prequel Trilogy, which made for easy chemistry.
Bonnie Piesse – Beru Lars
There’s no uncle Owen without Aunt Beru. Bonnie Piesse also returned as Luke’s stepmom. Since Luke himself was a child this time, it was a good opportunity for us to learn more about moisture farming, and keeping people away from the prying eyes of the Dark Side.
Since Revenge of the Sith, Piesse’s career took a bit of a turn due to her involvement in NXIVM, a cult associated with sex trafficking and racketeering. Thankfully, Piesse saw sense and didn’t get too involved, leaving in 2017, and ultimately helping take down the organisation. She’s primarily a Tarot card reader now, besides occasional flurries with the Force.
Vivien Lyra Blair – Princess Leia
Young Vivien Lyra Blair starred as a young Princess Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and she kind of stole the show. Born in 2012, Blair is one of the most talented young actors in the industry, and having smashed it with Obi-Wan Kenobi, she’s set to appear in the upcoming horror movie The Boogeyman.
That’s the Obi-Wan Kenobi cast. If you’d like to read more about a long, long time ago, check out our explainer on Order 66 or the Star Wars movies ranked. We’ve also got lists of the best Star Wars aliens, the best Star Wars droids, and the best Star Wars scenes in the entire saga,
Or, to look ahead to the future, take a look at the Obi-Wan Kenobi season 2 release date, alongside the Andor season 2 release date and the Ahsoka release date.