Ewan McGregor Opens up About How Brutal Reviews Shaped His Star Wars Prequel Years

Ewan McGregor has spent nearly three decades tied to one of cinema’s most divisive trilogies, playing a young Obi-Wan Kenobi across all three Star Wars prequels before eventually returning to the role for a beloved Disney+ series. That long relationship with the character has given McGregor plenty of perspective on how audiences’ feelings toward the prequels have shifted dramatically since their original theatrical releases, evolving from harsh criticism into genuine nostalgia over time.

McGregor addressed that complicated history directly during an appearance at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where he discussed both his decision to take on the role in the first place and what it was like watching the films get torn apart by critics once they hit theaters. The actor didn’t shy away from describing just how difficult that period actually was for him personally.

Speaking candidly about the experience at the festival, McGregor described the reaction to the films as “weird and hard,” reflecting on what it was like committing to such a massive project only to watch it get dragged through the mud by critics almost immediately after release. He added that he ultimately “learned a lot about not giving a shit” as a result of that backlash, a mindset shift that came to shape how he approached his career in the years that followed.

That harsh reception had a lasting effect on McGregor’s relationship with the fan community as well. According to Cosmic Book News, the actor revealed he avoided Star Wars conventions entirely for years afterward, explaining that he sensed fans simply didn’t like the films and felt it was best to stay away rather than force interactions he assumed would be unwelcome.

That avoidance didn’t last forever. McGregor described a dramatic shift in his relationship with fans once ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ premiered in 2022, recalling the overwhelming reaction from the crowd when the first two episodes debuted. He described the moment as an entirely new experience, saying he had never heard that kind of enthusiastic response directed at him before.

McGregor also reflected on the pressure he felt trying to embody Alec Guinness’s version of the character during the original prequel trilogy, admitting he spent much of that era trying hard to play a younger version of the legendary actor. He noted that the role came far more naturally once he returned to it in the Disney+ series, largely because his own age by that point aligned much more closely with where Guinness had been when he originated the role.

Beyond the backlash itself, McGregor also opened up about how difficult the initial decision to join the franchise had been. He described calling friends and mentors he respected, including director Danny Boyle and his uncle, actor Dennis Lawson, seeking advice before ultimately committing to the project, despite not initially seeing himself as the type of actor suited for a franchise like Star Wars.

With decades of hindsight now behind him, McGregor’s Edinburgh appearance offered a rare, unfiltered look at how deeply the prequels’ initial reception affected him, even as those same films have since found a passionate, nostalgic audience among fans who grew up with them.

His candor stood out even among the wide-ranging conversation, which also touched on his career, his connection to Scotland, and his chances of ever playing James Bond.

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