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In a galaxy nearly half a century old, Star Wars continues to surprise, excite, and sometimes even bewilder fans as it evolves through changing timelines and new story arcs. Since its explosive debut in 1977, George Lucas’s iconic series has seen countless twists and turns, reimaginings, and revisions.
But even in its storied past, few changes have been as unexpected as the one recently uncovered regarding Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace (1999) and an alternative storyline that would have changed the very essence of one of its most legendary Jedi.
Credit: Lucasfilm
The prequel trilogy, launched by Lucas in 1999, set out to establish the rise of the infamous Darth Vader. The trilogy began with The Phantom Menace and followed Anakin Skywalker’s journey from a gifted boy to the dark figure who would go on to confront and ultimately sacrifice himself for his son, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), in Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi (1983).
The early moments of The Phantom Menace reintroduced familiar faces like Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), now a young Padawan, who would later train Luke and guide him through his journey as a Jedi. Meanwhile, audiences got their first look at the young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), the nine-year-old boy destined for a darker path.
While the prequels filled in essential parts of Star Wars history, they also introduced a fresh roster of characters, including Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) and Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson). Though Qui-Gon met his end at the hands of Darth Maul (Ray Park) in The Phantom Menace, his legacy endured, appearing most recently as a Force presence in Obi-Wan Kenobi by director Deborah Chow.
Credit: Lucasfilm
However, according to concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig, the story could have taken an entirely different course. McCaig recently shared with StarWars.com that, during the early phases of production, Lucas envisioned a powerful twist that nearly redefined Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s relationship. In this alternate version, the elder Jedi was initially named Obi-Wan, while the younger one was known as Qui-Gon. In this scenario, it was Obi-Wan who would die in the climactic battle against Darth Maul, leaving the young Jedi to honor his fallen Master by adopting his name.
McCaig explained the impact this change could have had on the franchise, sharing that “it was very poignant that at the end, as Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul and stays with his Master as he passes away, he not only takes on his Master’s quest, but he takes on his name. Qui-Gon becomes Obi-Wan.”
This twist would have given Obi-Wan Kenobi’s iconic line from Star Wars: Episode IV–A New Hope an entirely different meaning. “That’s why when you see Alec Guinness in A New Hope, he puts his hood down and goes, ‘Obi-Wan? Now that’s a name I’ve not heard….’ Because he’s not Obi-Wan, he’s Qui-Gon,” McCaig added. “And right at the end, George changed it.”
Credit: Lucasfilm
Disney’s Star Wars Future
Disney’s latest strategy includes The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), which will unite the characters from the beloved Disney+ series for the franchise’s first big-screen feature since 2019. Other projects on the horizon include James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi,” a film exploring the origins of the Jedi Order, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s “New Jedi Order,” centered on Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker. However, rumors suggest that the latter is already encountering production challenges, reflecting the turbulent transition between the old and new generations of Star Wars storytellers.
On the streaming front, Lucasfilm is far from finished. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, a New Republic-era series led by Jude Law, is set to join The Mandalorian and others in expanding the shared universe. Meanwhile, fans still speculate on whether Obi-Wan Kenobi will return for a second season, though nothing official has been announced.
How do you feel about this new bit of Star Wars lore?
