Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi premiered on May 27th, 2022. As expected, the series has provided a lot of background info on Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) that we never knew before. For example, we are learning what he did during his years of exile on Tatooine, how he dealt with trauma surrounding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), and how he actually had adventures with Princess Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair) when she was a little girl.
However, the third episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi gave us a piece of information we definitely weren’t expecting. While attempting to get back home together, Leia asks Obi-Wan what it was like being a Jedi. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Obi-Wan admits that it wasn’t easy. He was taken away from his family to train at a very young age and, as a result, barely remembers his own family. Obi-Wan only has glimpses of the past—he remembers his mother’s shawl and his father’s hands. Also, he vaguely remembers a baby. Hence, he thinks that he had a baby brother, but he can’t remember him, really, although he wishes he did.
The memory was quite shocking to viewers, as Obi-Wan has never mentioned his family in any of the Star Wars films. Obviously, we know he had a mother and father, though we never knew their identities. It was also revealed that he was likely born on the planet Stewjon. However, there definitely was no previous indication that there might be a sibling of Obi-Wan’s somewhere out there. This, along with Obi-Wan’s uncertain memory, certainly makes us question if he even really does have a brother. Meanwhile, if there is another Kenobi out there, who is he and where is he?
Who is Obi-Wan’s brother?
In the Star Wars film franchise, Obi-Wan does not have a known brother. However, he almost did. In the original Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi screenplay, Obi-Wan did have a brother, and it was none other than Owen Lars (Joel Edgerton)—Luke Skywalker’s step-uncle and Anakin’s step-brother. This detail was cut and did not make it into the film.
What did happen to this storyline, though, is that it was included in the film’s novelization, written by James Kahn. All of these novelizations fall under the Star Wars Legends brand. Star Wars Legends encompasses the majority of Star Wars media outside of the films produced by George Lucas—e.i. books, comic books, video games, toys, etc. Star Wars Legends was originally the Star Wars Expanded Universe, but was rebranded Star Wars Legends and declared officially not canon to the Star Wars films when Disney took over.
Of course, even though Lars is hinted at being Obi-Wan’s brother in the Star Wars Legends, it’s all a bit dubious. It’s not as if it is explicitly confirmed or a concrete part of the plot. Basically, in one scene only, Obi-Wan calls Lars his brother, but it is unclear if that’s accurate.
Is Lars really Obi-Wan’s brother?
While Legends isn’t canon, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it can’t be utilized or that certain elements can’t be brought into the new continuity, as has happened with other elements. As for whether Owen is really Obi-Wan’s brother is difficult to say, but he’s truly the only one with any reason to suspect, thanks to Legends. That would mean that Obi-Wan’s parents are Cliegg and Aika Lars. The two were married and had Owen before Aika’s death. After Aika passed away, Cliegg fell in love with and married Anakin’s mother, Shmi Skywalker, freeing her from slavery. This made Owen (and thus, potentially, Obi-Wan) the step-brother of Anakin.
If Owen actually is Obi-Wan’s brother, that’s pretty heartbreaking, considering it is clear in Obi-Wan Kenobi that Owen has no love for Obi-Wan. He refuses to even accept the toys Obi-Wan tries to give Luke Skywalker (Grant Freely) and seems to blame Obi-Wan for what happened to Anakin. Still, there are some continuity issues if Owen and Obi-Wan are brothers. For example, the Lars family has always been from Tatooine, yet it was revealed that Obi-Wan is from the planet Stewjon. Also, it’d be a pretty unbelievable coincidence if Obi-Wan and his brother both ended up heavily tied to Anakin after being separated at birth.
The truth is, though, that Obi-Wan’s brother could really be anybody. The original plan was Owen, but that didn’t end up happening onscreen, leaving the door open for Obi-Wan’s family history. His brother could be someone we’ve met, or it could be a completely original character. Whether his brother will even figure into Obi-Wan Kenobi further, or into the rest of the Star Wars universe, remains to be seen.
(featured image: Lucasfilm)
