George Lucas Cut a Bombshell ‘Star Wars’ Twist From ‘Phantom Menace’: Liam Neeson Was Going to Play the Real Obi-Wan Kenobi Who Died
variety.comZack Sharf Digital News Director Love it or hate it, “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” is at least universally beloved for its casting of Ewan McGregor as young Obi-Wan Kenobi.
But hold up. A recent interview with “Star Wars” concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig (via StarWars.com) to mark “The Phantom Menace’s” 25th anniversary reveals that George Lucas was originally planning a bombshell twist for the movie.
McGregor’s Obi-Wan and Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon were originally swapped, meaning Neeson was playing the real Obi-Wan and thus the real Obi-Wan died. “For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan and the younger Jedi was named Qui-Gon,” McCaig said. “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…'” McCaig added. “Because he’s not Obi-Wan, he’s Qui-Gon.
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