Summary
The plot ofStar Wars: The Phantom Menacehas become so iconic that it’s hard to imagine a time when it didn’t captivate fans. However, it’s surprising that the film almost featured a game-changing twist that could’ve completely redefined the Star Wars mythology forever!
TheStar WarsPrequel Trilogy was a groundbreaking cinematic journey that reshaped the saga’s narrative, setting the stage for Anakin Skywalker’s tragic descent into darkness. The opening film,Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, introduced audiences to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) as they unravel a political conspiracy — one that reveals ominous shifts in the Force, the return of the Sith, and the discovery of a young “chosen one” with the potential to alter the galaxy’s fate. Whilethe plot ofThe Phantom Menacehas since become deeply embedded in Star Wars lore, it’s truly astonishing to learn, 25 years later, that there was originally a major twist ending that could have forever changed Star Wars lore.
In a recent interview withStar Wars‘ official site, artist Iain McCaig delved into some fascinating “what-ifs” from the early drafts of1999’sStar Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace. As one of the film’s key character designers, McCaig delved into an intriguing idea that almost made it into the final cut. According to McCaig, early story drafts featured a significant shake-up of the Jedi roles: Obi-Wan was originally written as the seasoned Jedi, while Qui-Gon was to be his younger Padawan. “It’s interesting how things evolve,” McCaig noted. “For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan, and the younger Jedi was named Qui-Gon.” But the surprises didn’t stop there. According to McCaig, George Lucas initially toyed with a powerful twist ending, where Obi-Wan’s heroic sacrifice against Darth Maul would lead to Qui-Gon adopting not just his master’s mission but also his name. In that version, after Obi-Wan’s death, Qui-Gon defeats Maul and takes up his fallen master’s name, effectively becoming the Obi-Wan we know.
This surprising name change couldn’t have been just thrown in for shock value; George Lucas intended it to completely alter our perception ofAlec Guinness’s portrayal of Obi-WaninStar Wars: A New Hope. As concept artist Iain McCaig explained, “That’s why when you see Alec Guinness inA 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.” However, Lucas decided to scrap this idea at the last minute. It’s a fascinating twist, and fans can’t help but wonder how different the saga would’ve been if he stuck with it. Would this name-switch have been a tradition among Jedi, or was it a unique bond between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon? Imagine if Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) had to adopt a name like Obi-Wan—or even Yoda—what a game-changer that would’ve been!
Star Warshas a long-standing tradition of characters reinventing themselves with new names or identities—whether it’s the iconic reveal ofDarth Vader as Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano taking on the codename “Fulcrum” for her undercover missions, or Caleb Dume transforming into “Kanan Jarrus.” However, a twist where Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon switched roles might have been too much for fans to handle. This likely pushed George Lucas to rework their dynamic into the classic Jedi Master-Padawan bond, which not only shaped Obi-Wan’s journey but also laid the groundwork for his profound connection with Anakin Skywalker.
After portraying Obi-Wan Kenobi inThe Phantom Menace,Attack of the Clones(2002), andRevenge of the Sith(2005), Ewan McGregor returned to the role for Disney+’s 2022 limited seriesObi-Wan Kenobi, which takes place a decade after the events of the prequels. Now, Disney and Lucasfilm are reportedly “exploring” ideas fora potential second season. Given the gap between the end of McGregor’s series and Alec Guinness’s portrayal inA New Hope, there’s clearly room for more untold stories—though whether those will come to light is still up in the air.
