Obi Wan Film Should be Based on Marvel's Star Wars Comics

It's a great time to be a Star Wars fan. With J.J. Abrams successfully helming the franchise, fans are eager to see how the future continues to unfold in a galaxy far, far away. The Force Awakens paved the way for director Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi to shake the mythos up for Luke Skywalker and the Force on the whole. Along the way, Disney developed the franchise's backstory in Star Wars: A Rogue One story, which retroactively and masterfully laid the foundation for the Rebels fighting the Empire in the very first Star Wars film, A New Hope.

We have high hopes that the newly reported Obi Wan Kenobi solo movie film can pack the same power, charting the Jedi's history after he escaped the onslaught of his order in Revenge of the Sith, and showing how he eventually became the recluse fans saw in A New Hope on Tatooine. Ewan McGregor has already stated he'd love to come back as the title character, so barring any surprising casting news, it would seem we have all the tools in place! After all, the comics are canon, so it's not a question of should they be adapted and acknowledged, it's more of a question of how and if they will be.

It must be noted that unlike Rogue One, which told an unseen story that had never before been explored, roots have already been laid for a solo Obi Wan epic in Marvel Comics Star Wars series. These stories, both written by Jason Aaron, were presented as writings from a journal Obi Wan intended to leave for Luke, provide a short but very solid insight as to what Obi Wan did in exile, which can easily be slotted into cinematic canon.

A Jedi in Exile

Jedi survivors of Emperor Palpatine's genocidal Order 66, including Yoda and Obi Wan, had to go into hiding due to the massacre. With Darth Vader's twins having been born, a haven was needed. Leia was safe, adopted by Senator Bail Organa, while Luke was taken by Obi Wan to Anakin's stepbrother, Owen, who was living in the last place Vader would look -- back home on Tatooine. They knew the importance of safeguarding the youngster after Anakin "died," and in Aaron's comics, we saw Obi Wan as a noble relic overseeing Luke's days as a youth from the shadows.

Star Wars #7, featuring art by John Cassaday, gave Marvel fans their first look at Obi Wan in his new role. As this is where the Jedi's journal started, we can just imagine a shot of him using the Force, not his hands, to pen the book -- an epic scene worthy of opening the movie. Another scene that begs to be translated to film was how he dusted off his lightsaber to save Luke from thugs sent to collect water taxes when Tatooine was in drought -- thugs belonging to none other than Jabba the Hutt. This showed us a weathered hero, not unlike a cowboy in exile. In fact, this Obi Wan is more like Jack Schaefer's Shane than Hugh Jackman's Logan ever was, simply because Obi Wan wasn't reluctant to embrace his destiny. The issue also pinpointed Luke's heroic aspirations as well, of wanting justice, and wanting more -- not just for his family -- but for everyone!

A Jedi Repentant

Star Wars #15, by Aaron and artist Mike Mayhew, went deeper into Obi Wan's relationship with Owen, who hated the Jedi for what happened to Anakin. What's interesting is that we could have some star-power added here because Joel Edgerton (Warrior, Loving) played Uncle Owen in the prequel films, so bringing him back as an older version makes perfect sense. The story is filled with cinematic scenes, featuring Obi Wan, fighting off Sith ghosts of past such as Darth Maul, General Grievous and Count Dooku, and finding himself reconnecting with his Jedi lineage again to strike a deal with the Jawas. Adapting these would allow movie to truly highlight his altruism which, while dimmed, was never snuffed out.

If the film takes its cues from this story, we'd see an Obi Wan who acts as a vigilante of sorts, helping take care of their Tusken Raider threat, and in return they would gift Luke free parts to build his Skyhopper racer. This paints Obi Wan, yet again, as a silent protector, not just of Luke, but of Tatooine. What really makes this an emotionally powerful arc is how Owen, realizing what was occuring, visited the Jedi and lashed out at him. It was very clear he thought Anakin was merely murdered and didn't know he turned to the Dark Side as Darth Vader, the man who was terrorizing the galaxy -- which could make a damning revelation in the movie. Aaron smartly played up Obi Wan's inner-turmoil here when he took up his lightsaber again to guard those he loves, which would give McGregor some truly meaty drama to dig into.

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A Jedi Hunted

Star Wars #20 (also from Aaron and Mayhew) really tied together everyone on Tatooine, as Jabba sent a bounty hunter after Obi Wan for messing with his tax collection. Adapting aspects from this would allow the film to flip the Star Wars mythos on its head by introducing someone audiences have never seen before: a disgraced Wookie bounty hunter in the form of Black Krrsantan. In addition to expanding the on-screen character pool, this would be an opportunity to allow Jabba to send even more bounty hunters after Obi Wan, maybe even offering fans a cameo with Boba Fett turning the job down (which could, incidentally, set up Fett's rumored solo film). Or perhaps Boba takes the job, given that Obi Wan battled his father, Jango, in Attack of the Clones, and was eventually killed by Mace Windu, another Jedi.

The animated Star Wars Rebels (also in canon!) brought Darth Maul back via cybernetic enhancements, so there's that option as well. Either way, the comics offer the chance to present an Obi Wan facing not just an enemy, but how own fear. He's aging, as is his ability to use the Force, which the comics show when he fails with a Jedi mind-trick on Krrsantan. What made things so engaging is that Krrsantan then attacked Aunt Beru and Owen, taking Owen hostage to draw out Obi Wan. The Jedi eventually defeated the wookie, with Luke using his Skyhopper to save Uncle Owen while never truly finding out who Obi Wan truly is. Again, this is the perfect moment for the films to introduce "Ben" to Luke, putting a few more puzzle pieces in place as it fleshes out the pre-original trilogy timeline. It would also serve as a rite of passage for Luke, now presented as a heroic young hero instead of a kid, while Owen finally accepts that Ben Kenobi's heart was in the right place after all.

A Jedi Redeemed

What makes these particular issues so powerful is that they depict a haunted yet resilient Jedi in hiding, one who realizes his duty never ends. Apart from the throwbacks to Jabba and the other names mentioned above, we could see how Obi Wan learning to harness the Force to speak to his master, Qui Gonn, in the afterlife -- which the comics are yet to fully dive into. Aaron did go a bit into Yoda's escape from Order 66 much later, but that too could be retooled to show if and how he actually meets with Obi Wan to discuss Luke, and the young Jedi's potential to restore balance to the Force.

What's most crucial, and what can surely be the heartbeat of this movie, is that Aaron's stories never ever depict Obi Wan as someone cynical of Luke. He's never concerned that placing faith in the youngster will lead to disaster like it did with his father. Luke is always viewed by Obi Wan as a new hope forged "in blood and fire and sand. And sky." More so, Luke is presented as someone with a lot of heart and soul by Obi Wan, reflecting the characteristics of the Master Jedi himself, witnessed when fate finally allows both to meet in Lucas' first film.