Ever since Obi-Wan Kenobi, the brand new Star Wars sequence from Disney Plus that takes place between the unique trilogy and the prequel trilogy, arrived in late May, one query has been requested advert nauseam on Twitter: Why does Obi-Wan look a lot older within the unique trilogy in comparison with the distinction between the prequels and the brand new present?
The in-universe time lapse between these intervals is just about the identical: round 10 years between Revenge of the Sith and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and about 9 years between Obi-Wan Kenobi and A New Hope. But the distinction between unique trilogy Obi-Wan and new Obi-Wan is stark, as many, many, many individuals are delighted to level out on social media.
Here at Polygon, we love answering the necessary questions. We’ve consulted the info with our crack group of ageing scientists, and we’ve the solutions you’re in search of.
Why does Obi-Wan Kenobi age like that?
Because he’s not actual, and is a fictional character performed by totally different folks.
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Image: twentieth Century Fox
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Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
You see, Obi-Wan Kenobi is performed by Alec Guinness within the unique trilogy. Guinness was 62 when he filmed A New Hope, and he died in 2000. In the prequel trilogy and the Obi-Wan Kenobi sequence, the character is performed by Ewan McGregor, who was 26 when filming The Phantom Menace and is at the moment 51. Those are two totally different folks! Incredible!
Wait, so Obi-Wan Kenobi will not be an actual particular person?
Yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi is fictional, and portrayed by a number of actors who every aged a standard quantity over the course of showing in these motion pictures and present. Ah, cinema.
