By This year marks the 25th anniversary of George Lucas’ “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace”.
There’s been plenty of stories throughout the year about the anniversary, but a new interview with original “Star Wars” concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig has resulted in something unexpected.
Speaking with the official Star Wars.com website, he says Lucas was originally planning an end twist involving the true identities of characters Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).
He explains what would’ve happened:
“For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan and the younger Jedi was named Qui-Gon. It was very poignant that at the end, as Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul and stays with his Master as he passes away, he not only takes on his Master’s quest, but he takes on his name. Qui-Gon becomes Obi-Wan.
That’s why when you see Alec Guinness in ‘A New Hope,’ he puts his hood down and goes, ‘Obi-Wan? Now that’s a name I’ve not heard…’. Because he’s not Obi-Wan, he’s Qui-Gon. And right at the end, George changed it.”
Despite the name change, McGregor was always playing the younger version of Alec Guinness’ character from the original. McGregor reprised the Obi-Wan role in two sequels and then a Disney+ limited series.
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