Obi Wan Kenobi is rumored to return to the new "Star Wars Episode VII" with a series of sources alleging that Emperor Palpatine will return to the franchise.
According to Latino Review Ewan McGregor may return in a cameo appearance as a ghost in the new film. "After all, Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared throughout the original trilogy, despite his death in 'A New Hope.' I have confirmed this with three close sources that are on the project and they all confirmed to me that Ewan McGregor would be back as a Force Ghost in the upcoming sequel trilogy. McGregor was always down to return," reported Latino Review.
The Latino Review also revealed that McGregor wants a standalone film: "The interesting part of the conversation I had with my source was that McGregor also wants a solo standalone film!"
The news is a bit surprising considering the logic in the Star Wars films. The force ghost that appeared in "Episodes V" and "VI" also featured Obi-wan's older form played by Sir Alec Guiness. Guiness has now passed away, leaving the possibility of a return completely out of the question. The new Star Wars crew could be taking advantage of a revision that George Lucas did to "Return of the Jedi's" ending. In the original version, actor Sebastian Shaw appeared as the ghost once he returned to the light side of the force. However, in the DVD releases Lucas replaced Shaw with Hayden Christensen, the actor who incarnated the young Anakin. This would suggest that the Jedi could choose the form they want to express themselves in. This has never been clarified by Lucas and has remained an ambiguity of the remastered original trilogy.
McGregor's publicists or managers have yet to confirm anything but it is well known that the actor would like to return to the role. Last year during an interview promoting his film "The Impossible," McGregor told the Digital Spy that he would do Star Wars again if they needed him. When asked whether he would return to the series, McGregor said, "I guess, yeah, of course, if they need me, yeah, I'd be happy [to go back]."
The news comes a day after various sources stated Ian McDiarmid would return to the series as Palpatine. Throughout the past month various casting rumors have spread with neither Disney nor Lucasfilms confirming casting.
"Star Wars Episode VII" will be directed J.J Abrams and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, with a script written by Michael Arndt. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher are slated to reprise their roles from the original trilogy. Disney will release the film in 2015.