There was a long, long time when it seemed like the idea of getting a Star Wars spin-off about Obi-wan Kenobi was a pipe dream for fans, but such a project is definitely a pipe dream no longer. The idea is now coming together as one of the developing original series that will be available exclusively on Disney+, and production on the project will start up soon. Proof of this is that key pieces are starting to fall into place, and this includes adding new stars to the supporting cast – such as Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma, who has reportedly just come aboard today.
News of this casting comes to us from Deadline, but it should probably come as no surprise that there isn't any information available about the character that she will be playing on the series. Varma joins a cast that is already confirmed to include Ewan McGregor in the lead role, and Hayden Christensen returning as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. It has been confirmed that the story will take place between the events of Revenge Of The Sith and A New Hope, which means that it's likely that a great deal of the action will take place on the planet Tatooine (where Obi-wan hid out to keep an eye on baby Luke Skywalker), but that doesn't really do anything to narrow down the part that the newcomer to the Star Wars franchise will play.
In a way it's funny to see her come aboard a Star Wars project. Indira Varma is best known for her role as Ellaria Sand on Game Of Thrones, and it was just a few years ago that her significant other on the HBO series, Pedro Pascal, also joined the sci-fi franchise to play the lead role in The Mandalorian. Fans can now start keeping their fingers crossed that Varma's mystery character will someday get to cross paths with Din Djarin, though it's hard to say how likely that is given that the Obi-wan Kenobi show will be set decades before the events that see the Beskar steel-wearing bounty hunter meet Grogu.
Filming on the new Disney+ exclusive, which still doesn't seem to have an official title, is expected to start filming in the spring, and it has been confirmed that the production will be utilizing the same digital/virtual technologies used by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni in the making of The Mandalorian. It's fair to assume that episodes are going to feature more than three characters, so it's pretty easy to guess that Indira Varma's casting could open the floodgates to more casting announcements before the first day of principal photography. Deborah Chow is directing the show, while Joby Harold has written the script, and while we know nothing about the plot of the limited series, there is an expectation that it will at least be in part about Darth Vader hunting down Obi-wan Kenobi in the wake of the memorable Duel on Mustafar. As the project gets further into pre-production, stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for updates.
