Star Wars: How ‘Kenobi’ Can Draw Inspiration from the Legends Novel
The 2013 Kenobi novel of the same name as the upcoming Disney+ series, has a lot of moments we’d like to see in live-action.
Published in August 2013, Kenobi by John Jackson Miller is one of the last of the Star Wars Legends books. This is to say that it’s not technically part of the currently accepted canon, and not that it is anything but a great Star Wars novel. Because 2013’s Kenobi is pretty darn great. Disney has been known to borrow bits and pieces from Legends as they see fit, reintroducing characters and adding nods to long lost scenes into their new shows. So we see no reason why they wouldn’t borrow from 2013’s Kenobi in 2022’s Kenobi.
Rooh the Eopie
Based on the trailers and concept art, we may sort of get this one! Eopies are creatures native to Tatooine that look a little like a camel smashed with an anteater. And in Disney+’s Kenobi, the part of Old Ben’s Eopie is played by a CGI’d camel. In the book he keeps one named Rooh as a pet. The show can just as easily not name his Eopie at all, but I’d love the slight nod of a name drop.
Saving Kallie and Anileen Calwell
Courtesy of Lucas Films
As the trailers have been quick to point out, Jedi can’t help but save people. In the novel, this becomes apparent when Kenobi (and Rooh) save Kallie and Anileen Calwall from riding directly into a Sarlacc field. A race against the clock to save characters his neighbors on Tatooine would be a fantastic and high-stakes reintroduction to the character. It would show that even while he’s been trying to keep a low profile these past ten years, he can’t help himself when it comes to people who need him. This would also be a fitting introduction as it is looking like the inquisitors will attempt to used this exact character trait to bring Kenobi out of hiding. Also, I want to see a field of Sarlaccs.
Helps Annileen Escape the Planet While He’s Tied to it
Courtesy of Lucas Films
Towards the end of the book, not-so-old Ben helps Annileen Calwell get off planet. He basically applies to galactic college for her and sends her on her way. She’d like for him to leave Tatooine with him, but Kenobi is tied to the planet by a need to watch over a young Luke Skywalker. I adore this theme and the idea of Kenobi helping others get out while he can’t. This show is taking a slightly different approach to this theme and it looks like Obi-Wan will be leaving for a little while. But we know that he’ll return to Tatooine to continue protecting Luke from afar.
Kenobi Novel Shows Him Talking to Qui-Gon
The 2013 novel takes place in the early days of Obi-Wan’s stay on Tatooine. He’s only been without his friends for a short time and he’s going through many complex emotions and struggles. It’s a dark time for him. He gets through this in part by talking to his old master Qui-Gon Jinn in ghost form. I’m pretty sure Liam Neeson has already said he won’t be making an appearance in this show. If that’s a cameo that they kept under wraps I would be very impressed. But we also know that this show will be a little more dark and bleak than we usually get in Star Wars. If there isn’t a moment to seek the advice of hid old master, maybe there can be a time when he reflects on one of these conversations.
Kenobi will be streaming on Disney+ starting this Friday with new episodes every Wednesday after.
Have you read the 2013 novel Kenobi? Are you looking forward to the streaming series of the same name? If you could pull one scene from the book to see in live action, what would it be? Let us know in the comments!
May The Force Be With You, Adventurers!
