The release of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ has brought fans back to Tatooine to further explore one of the best characters from the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of the legendary Jedi carried the prequel trilogy which led to the hype for the new series. While McGregor’s performance definitely stood out, he wasn’t alone.

RELATED: 10 Best Performances In The Star Wars Sequels, Ranked

George Lucas assembled an interesting cast of actors for his return to the Star Wars universe. Each brought something unique to their roles that helped launch the Skywalker Saga. While the prequel trilogy isn’t always as well-received as the original, it is still a favorite for some fans due to these amazing performances.

10 The Voice Of Frank Oz As Yoda Was Comforting To Fans Despite The New CGI Design

Yoda's Lightsaber for Iconic Lightsabers

Jedi Master Yoda was brought to life in the original trilogy thanks to puppeteer Frank Oz, who also provided the voice for the character. Yoda’s unique form of speech is one of the most recognized in the Star Wars universe. This made Frank Oz’s return in the prequel trilogy a comforting addition for fans who got to hear Yoda again.

However, the character was now brought to life using advanced CGI technology, so the performance did suffer a bit. Thankfully, Oz still delivered Yoda’s lines passionately to sell the character’s scenes. His final battle with Darth Sidious in the ruins of the Senate is remembered as one of Yoda’s best appearances as it revealed his mastery with one of the deadliest lightsabers in Star Wars.

9 Ray Park’s Darth Maul Was Dark And Welcome New Addition To The Skywalker Saga

Darth Maul Activates His Lightsaber In Star Wars The Phantom Menace

One of the most exciting new characters that appeared in the prequel trilogy was a new Sith Lord known as Darth Maul. Ray Park played the mostly silent Dathomirian warrior. The skilled martial artist brought a new physicality to the role that made Darth Maul an impressive albeit short-lived threat in the prequel trilogy.

Park impressed fans with his martial arts skill and his talent with a bo staff. This made the debut of Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber one of the high points of The Phantom Menace. Unfortunately, some of Park’s performance as Darth Maul was lost when Peter Serafinowicz was brought in to dub the few lines of the character.

8 Temuera Morrison’s Debut As Jango Fett Would Lead To His Return As Boba Fett

Jango Fett and the Kamino Clone Troopers in Star Wars

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones added some depth to the backstory of one of the original trilogy’s most popular characters, Boba Fett. The second film of the prequel trilogy revealed that his father was a mercenary named Jango Fett, played by Temuera Morrison. Jango Fett was the genetic base for the Kamino army, so Morrison also played every aged version of the clone troopers.

RELATED: Every Star Wars Movie & Show You Should Watch Before Obi-Wan (In Timeline Order)

Temuera Morrison gave Jango Fett a hard edge that made him a great opponent for Obi-Wan Kenobi. He also had a dramatic fatal showdown with Mace Windu that shocked fans as he was gruesomely decapitated. Thankfully, Morrison’s success in the role of Jango led to his return as his own son/clone Boba Fett in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

7 Hayden Christensen Nailed Anakin Skywalker’s Dark Corruption Into Darth Vader

Anakin Skywalker, played by Hayden Christensen, on the planet of Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith.

The role of Anakin Skywalker wasn’t one that impressed fans initially. Jake Lloyd’s performance in The Phantom Menace was derided by fans, and Hayden Christiensen’s debut as an older Anakin in Attack of the Clones also failed to impress. However, it soon became clear why Christensen was chosen for the role when Anakin became Darth Vader.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith featured a slightly older Anakin as he fell under the manipulation of a hidden Sith Lord. Christensen was able to capture the character’s dark descent as he turned on the Jedi Order and fought to keep his love alive. His evolution into one of Star Wars' strongest movie villains was celebrated by fans, leading to his warm return in Obi-Wan Kenobi.

6 Christopher Lee’s Count Dooku Brought A Regal Elegance To The Dark Sith Lord

Count Dooku wielding a Sith lightsaber

A few Sith Lords were actively working to bring down the Republic in the prequel trilogy. The legendary Christoper Lee finally joined the Star Wars universe in Attack of the Clones as Count Dooku. He played a former Jedi who had become the leader of the Seperationist army that threatened the Galactic Republic. However, he was also revealed as a Sith apprentice

This led to a few dynamic fight scenes with Jedi like Obi-Wan, Anakin and Yoda. Lee brought a unique menace to the character that could challenge any of the villains in the Star Wars universe. Lee was one actor from the prequel trilogy who nailed his role.

5 Samuel L. Jackson’s Portrayal Of Mace Windu Left Fans Wanting More Of The Jedi

Mace Windu from Star Wars wielding his lightsaber

There were a number of new Jedi who were introduced in the prequel trilogy, though none made quite as big of a splash as Samuel L. Jackson’s Mace Windu. The character was a Jedi Master who also sat on the Jedi Council that worked with the Republic’s Galactic Senate. This made him an important player politically, but he also shined in a few Jedi battles as well.

Jackson’s portrayal of Mace Windu might be considered tame to some of his other iconic characters over the years. However, he managed to make the character his own with the simple request of a purple lightsaber to help him stand out in the battle scenes. Mace Windu’s death off-screen in Revenge of the Sith has kept the hope alive with fans that he will one day return to the role.

4 Liam Neeson Impressed Fans With His Rebellious But Wise Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn with his green lightsaber in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

The Phantom Menace introduced fans to a younger version of Obi-Wan Kenobi from the original trilogy, though he was only a Jedi Padawan. He was still learning from his own Jedi Master named Qui-Gon Jinn, played by Liam Neeson. While the actor might be better known for his action-heavy tough guy roles now, he was the perfect choice for the wise but rebellious Jedi Master.

RELATED: Every Star Wars Movie And TV Show In Chronological Order

Qui-Gon Jinn’s disagreements with his other Masters kept him off the Jedi Council but allowed him to focus his study on the Force and helping people across the galaxy. Neeson brought a strong kindness and determination to the role of Qui-Gon Jinn that made his death at the hands of Darth Maul even more impactful.

3 Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala Was A Defender Of The Republic Like Her Children

Natalie Portman as Senator Padme Amidala in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

When fans were first introduced to Queen Amidala of Naboo in The Phantom Menace, her status as the future mother of Skywalker Saga heroes Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa wasn’t widely known. Yet Natalie Portman’s performance as Padmé Amidala quickly impressed fans with her warrior spirit that reminded them of the original trilogy’s heroes.

She later appeared as an important figure in the Galactic Senate who fought against the Separatist armies. Portman captured Amidala’s struggles with her job in the Senate as well as her secret relationship with Anakin Skywalker. Portman's performance turned Padmé Amidala into one of the strongest female characters in the franchise.

2 Ian McDiarmid Succeeded With Senator Palpatine’s Transformation Into The Emperor

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from the Star Wars prequel trilogy

The only villain that appeared in all three trilogies from the Skywalker Saga was Darth Sidious, the Sith Emperor of the Galactic Empire. Ian McDiarmid played the role across the decades, though he was able to give the character much more depth in the prequel trilogy. McDiarmid debuted in the prequel trilogy as the friendly and helpful Naboo Senator Sheev Palpatine.

However, Palpatine was already manipulating events to make himself the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. He then orchestrated a Galactic War that allowed him to assume full control of the Senate. He was finally revealed as the hidden Sith Lord Darth Sidious, which allowed McDiarmid to shine in his menacing Emperor persona.

1 Ewan McGregor Continues To Move Fans With His Performance As Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy

The character of Obi-Wan Kenobi had already developed a fan base thanks to Sir Alec Guinness's portrayal of the old Jedi Master in the original trilogy. However, it wasn’t until Ewan McGregor took on the role in the prequel trilogy that fans really fell in love with the character. He grew from a young Jedi Padawan to one of the few surviving Masters after Revenge of the Sith.

McGregor brought a casual charm to the character that made him instantly likable. He starred in some of the most iconic Obi-Wan Kenobi scenes in Star Wars films. McGregor made fans feel his heartbreak at his failure to save Anakin from his turn to the dark side. His performance in the prequel trilogy led to his long-awaited return to the role in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi.