The Star Wars Characters We Could See Make Cameos On The Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ Series
Now that the long-awaited Disney+ series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is almost here – - it premieres May 25, 2022 – - it's time to ramp up the speculation about what it's going to be like.
What we do know is that the show follows a middle-aged Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), in the period of his life between the events of the three prequel films and the events of "Star Wars: A New Hope." In that time, Obi-Wan has fled Coruscant and the disastrous results of the Clone Wars, which saw the vast majority of the Jedi wiped out thanks to Order 66. When the show begins, Obi-Wan is living in seclusion in the Dune Sea of Tatooine, watching over a ten-year-old Luke Skywalker from afar.
Based on the recently released trailer, it looks like the series will also follow the efforts of the Grand Inquisitor (Rupert Friend) as he hunts down the Jedi. The Grand Inquisitor is a major character from the "Star Wars: Rebels" animated series, the head of an order within the Empire tasked with exterminating the remaining Jedi in the galaxy. The trailer also confirmed that the show will include other familiar "Star Wars" characters, like Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton), Beru Lars (Bonnie Piesse), and Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen).
Naturally, that leads fans to wonder which other characters from the "Star Wars" galaxy might make an appearance. Dozens of "Star Wars" characters are alive during this time period, ten years after the events of "Revenge of the Sith," and nine years before "A New Hope." Who else might show up?
Here are five characters who could have cameos on "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Yoda
Admittedly, it's unlikely "Obi-Wan Kenobi" will show Yoda in his physical form. When the show takes place, Yoda has already been living on the swamp planet Dagobah for several years, having fled there shortly after the events of "Revenge of the Sith" (via Wookiepedia). So, unless Obi-Wan takes a vacation to Dagobah, we probably won't see Yoda in his home.
It's much more likely that we might see Yoda in flashbacks. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi worked closely together throughout the Clone Wars, and the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" trailer has already confirmed that his failures during them weigh heavily on his mind. "Obi-Wan Kenobi" could also opt to depict the moment when Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) decided to send the Skywalker twins into hiding. If "Obi-Wan Kenobi" does utilize flashbacks to the events of the Clone Wars or immediately afterwards, Yoda would be a likely candidate to show up.
Above all, since Yoda is alive at the time of the series–about 887 years old–and since he has such strong connections to Obi-Wan, we can't rule out a cameo.
Wilhuff Tarkin
Wilhuff Tarkin is the high-ranking Imperial officer who commands the Death Star during the events of "A New Hope." Tarkin also appears in "Rogue One," the 2016 prequel film that explores the theft of the Death Star plans. Tarkin was played by Peter Cushing in both versions, although "Rogue One" infamously opted to use a digital recreation of the deceased Cushing for the role.
Beyond the movies, Wilhuff Tarkin has a long and rich backstory, being involved in many major events that take place between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope." He was directly involved in the construction of the Death Star, which at the time "Obi-Wan Kenobi" takes place is still being built (via Wookiepedia).
We already know that Darth Vader will be appearing in all six episodes of the limited series (via IMDb). Given how closely Tarkin works with Vader, it's possible he could appear alongside the Sith Lord.
The only question is, would "Obi-Wan Kenobi" use the digital recreation trick again, or would it recast the role? After the fans' negative reaction to digital-Tarkin, it might be better to avoid him altogether.
Qui-Gon Jinn
Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) is Obi-Wan's Jedi partner during the events of "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace." We all remember Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul, so Qui-Gon would likely have to show up in flashbacks.
However, there's another way Qui-Gon could show up: as a Force ghost. Many deceased Jedi have the ability to appear as a Force ghost. According to the "Star Wars" canon, before Yoda and Obi-Wan parted ways, Yoda taught Obi-Wan how to communicate with Qui-Gon's spirit. He even instructed Obi-Wan to spend his solitude on Tatooine doing just that (via Wookiepedia).
If the show does pull from Obi-Wan's backstory, Qui-Gon seems like an even likelier bet than Yoda to show up. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon represent opposite ends of the Jedi belief system. While Obi-Wan doesn't think Jedi should have romantic relationships, Qui-Gon thought it should be encouraged. On "Obi-Wan Kenobi," Obi-Wan has just witnessed his former protege Anakin fall to the dark side after the death of his wife Padme Amidala. No doubt this will be fresh in his mind, and bringing Qui-Gon back would be an opportunity to show Obi-Wan grappling with his guilt.
The only wrinkle in this theory is the Liam Neeson factor. To date, there have been no reports of Liam Neeson agreeing to portray the character, so a cameo by Neeson would be a surprise. On the other hand, Neeson did do a Qui-Gon cameo on "Clone Wars." Plus, fans clearly want this one to happen.
Ahsoka Tano
Here's another "Star Wars" character who could appear in a variety of ways. Ahsoka Tano is Anakin Skywalker's Padawan Jedi during the events of "Star Wars: Clone Wars." Afterwards, she organizes a network of Jedi resistance cells across the galaxy, which is explored in "Star Wars: Rebels."
If "Obi-Wan Kenobi" does go back to the Clone Wars or the events of "Rebels," obviously Tano could be involved. She was framed for the bombing of the Jedi Temple hangar on Coruscant, (and prosecuted by Tarkin). When "Obi-Wan Kenobi" takes place, nine years before "A New Hope," Tano is a member of the Spectres, a covert ops unit working for the Rebellion. While some of her activities are covered in "Rebels," her exact whereabouts at this time still haven't been detailed. So, nothing precludes her from showing up (via Wookiepedia).
Rosario Dawson has already portrayed Ahsoka Tano on both "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett," (plus "Rise of Skywalker"), so there is a precedent for her to appear on a Disney+ series. And since Disney is also reportedly planning a spinoff series about Ahsoka Tano, it's possible "Obi-Wan Kenobi" might be another opportunity to familiarize fans with the character.
Princess Leia
This one seems the most likely. If "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is already going to show a ten-year-old Luke, it follows that it would also show his adolescent twin sister Leia. This is even more likely given the fact that Jimmy Smits is reported to be appearing in "Obi-Wan Kenobi" as Leia's adopted father, Bail Organa (via SlashFilm).
It's possible that Smits' appearance might only be via flashback, to the moment when he, Obi-Wan, and Yoda decided to hide baby Luke and Leia from Darth Vader. However, since "Revenge of the Sith" already showed Bail Organa adopting baby Leia, it seems "Obi-Wan Kenobi" wouldn't hit the same note. It's more likely that "Obi-Wan Kenobi" might show ten-year-old Leia in her adopted home. Since Obi-Wan watches over Luke, it's reasonable to imagine he might have some way of doing that for Leia.
Also, if adolescent Leia did appear, it would mean fans get a rare live-action look at Leia's home planet Alderaan, which the Death Star destroys in "A New Hope."
Of course, these are just five possibilities out of dozens of "Star Wars" characters active during this period, both major and minor. Only two months until we find out what Disney+ has in store.