Star Wars: Ewan McGregor on why critics initially hated the prequel trilogy

The hype leading up to the release of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was something else; After all, this was the first new Star Wars movie in nearly twenty years. Try as it might, there was no way that The Phantom Menace could live up to the hype. Critics weren’t overly kind to the movie, or the rest of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and Ewan McGregor thinks he knows why.

While speaking with GQ, Ewan McGregor discussed his theory as to why the Star Wars prequel trilogy didn’t click with critics. “I think the critics just wanted to feel like they were seven or eight again, and they didn’t get that,” McGregor explained. “So I was left with that [reaction] for years and years, and it took [until I started] meeting people, and I realised how important our films have been to them.” The actor added that the cast was only aware of the critical side of things at the time. “That was the only voice I remember hearing, and they were not liked,” McGregor said. Thankfully, recent years have proven to Ewan McGregor just how special the Star Wars prequel trilogy is to a new generation of fans. McGregor also expressed his admiration for Star Wars creator George Lucas.

I admire George for having tried to do something different with them. He didn’t just set out to make another three Star Wars films that felt like the original ones. I respected him for that. I think that’s ballsy and interesting.

Ewan McGregor recently reprised his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a six-episode series set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Although the series was developed as a standalone, both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen have expressed their desire for a second season. “I really hope we do another,” McGregor said. “If I could do one of these every now and again – I’d just be happy about it.“