Ewan McGregor, who portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, has spoken about how he learned to disregard the harsh criticism the films initially received. While the prequels have seen a shift in fan perception over time, their debut in theaters was met with significant backlash, with critics targeting dialogue and storytelling.
McGregor, who has spoken positively about his experience making the films, found the critical reception challenging. "I did them, and I enjoyed them, and they were not well received. And so that was weird and hard – to sort of put yourself into something like that, and then for them to be really dragged through the mud by the critics," McGregor told The Independent. "But I learned a lot about not giving a sh*t."
The actor's early career included roles in independent films like "Trainspotting," making the Star Wars prequels a departure from his previous work. He acknowledged the difficulty of aligning himself with such a massive franchise while also dealing with the lukewarm reception. The process of detaching personal need for praise was instrumental for him.
McGregor found a new perspective when he began interacting with fans who had grown up with and cherished the prequel trilogy. This engagement helped him realize that despite the critical reviews, the films held significant meaning for a portion of the audience. His portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi is widely considered a standout element of the prequels, and the character's enduring popularity led to his own Disney Plus series, "Obi-Wan Kenobi."