The SAG-AFTRA strike is currently ongoing with various personalities from the entertainment industry as they fight for better labor conditions and against the threats of artificial intelligence. There is no light at the end of the tunnel yet as the strike may be extended. Now that the New York Comic Con has begun, Star Wars' Ewan McGregor participates to take a stand and support the cause.
New York Comic Con started today and while the SAG-AFTRA strike is ongoing, there are certain restrictions on what the actors in attendance can do during the event. As per the New York Comic Con site, celebrities attending can do autographs and photo opportunities but to those who belong in stuck properties cannot sign images of their characters, only their personal headshots. During panels, actors cannot discuss their previous or current projects under stuck properties but can only speak about other things beyond the subject of the strike.
Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in his titular Star Wars series, took the time during his panel to take a stand and express his support towards the SAG strike. As reported by Comicbook.com, McGregor said:
This is the first thing like this I've done and it's been a decision to do it, but I really wanted to take part. And it's difficult for us to be up here and not be allowed to talk about our actual films I'm sure you would want to hear about, and so I apologize for that. But we – that's just the way we have to do it I suppose. But it was important to come and see you all meet you all and be part of this relationship, you know, between the people we make the films for and, and the people that make them so yeah, so I'm happy to be here.
The SAG members are currently under contract negotiations as they push for better compensation and working conditions modified and heavily affected by streaming. These includes those under Netflix, Max, and Hulu, resulting to the changes in the pay of the actors. They also fight for the control over their images generated through artificial intelligence.
When will Ewan McGregor return as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars?
Ewan McGregor starred in his character's titular series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. While the show was tagged as a limited series, Ewan McGregor revealed during the virtual conversation under the Disney Studios Awards website:
I was so happy to do it again, and so happy to work with Hayden again. In the old days, I would joke about, 'There must be a good story to tell between Episode III and VI .' But, it's true. I always felt that there was. I feel like Deborah Chow found it and absolutely nailed it... just found the story that we wanted to see between the last one that we did and first that was done in 1977.
Early this year, speculations about Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 circled around social media as the fans call for the renewal of the series despite being coined as a limited series. However, there is still no official word from Lucasfilm whether the show would happen.
As such, expect that Ewan McGregor would remain to be Obi-Wan Kenobi in whichever show he makes an appearance in in the Star Wars franchise. The upcoming Star Wars shows are quite diverse and McGregor could take part in any of it, should the narrative be fit.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is currently streaming on Disney Plus.
