With all the hype surrounding the upcoming The Last Jedi, the forthcoming Solo film, and Rian Johnson’s all-new Star Wars trilogy coming in the next decade,  Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s solo film has been lost in the shuffle, presumably slated for sometimei in 2020.

We know very little about this movie, except that it will likely take place between Episodes III and IV, and will almost certainly star Ewan McGregor as the venerable Jedi Knight once again. We also know that Stephen Daldry is attached to direct.

So what can an Obi-Wan movie tell us about the character that six movies didn’t tell us? Well, keep in mind all those films were about Obi-Wan’s relationship to his fallen apprentice Anakin Skywalker. A solo film entirely divorced from the whole Darth Vader situation would be the perfect vehicle to explore who Obi-Wan Kenobi really is outside of the context of his relationship to his former padawan. Here are seven essential things that a proper Obi-Wan Kenobi solo film would need to succeed.

Keep All The Action On Tatooine

While Star Wars films usually feature multiple worlds, an Obi-Wan Kenobi standalone film should emphasize his exile on Tatooine. I think if we find out that Old Ben, as he is known now, was going back and forth from Tatooine and other worlds in the period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, it’s kind of a cheat. We know that Tatooine has plenty of different species living on it to give it a unique flavor, and the fact that Obi-Wan is “trapped” on this dustball of a planet should be a focal tragedy of his story.

Make It A Western

Each of the “Star Wars Story” films are exploring different genres, albeit with a galactic twist. Rouge One, for example, was a straight up war movie. Meanwhile, rumors abound that the Han Solo film will be an Ocean’s 11 light hearted heist movie. So could Obi-Wan’s film be a western? If we assume the film will take place on Tatooine, Obi-Wan is basically a long ranger looking for redemption in dusty isolation. It would be a shame if it weren’t a Western. If Logan was “X-Men movie meets westerns,” the Obi-Wan’s movie should be a similar mash-up.

Use Flashbacks

Obi-Wan’s exile on Tatooine should be peppered with plenty of flashbacks to his life before everything went to hell. So much of Obi-Wan’s life revolves around Anakin in the saga films, it would be interesting to see his what his life was like before the Skywalkers.

The flashbacks shouldn’t be too extensive, just enough to give us and idea who Obi-Wan was as young Jedi Padawan, growing up in the capital of the Republic under the guidance of Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda, revered Jedi Masters. This would provide a stark contrast to his life today, on the planet Luke would later describe as the furthest distant from the “bright center of the universe.”

Explain His Motivation In A New Hope

When we meet “Old Ben” in A New Hope, Obi-Wan is very determined to get off the planet of Tatooine, and take a young Luke Skywalker with him. But why is he so certain that he should be the one to train him, after the disaster with Anakin’s training? It seems there was something–perhaps a mission where he found his purpose again–that renewed confidence in his own abilities to guide those in need. The Obi-Wan solo film could go into detail about just what this mission was, and how “Obi-Wan got his groove back.”

Let Old Ben Have A Love Interest For Once

The original Star Wars films feature not even a hint of Obi-Wan’s romantic life. (We’re not counting the fact that Clone Wars featured an Obi-Wan love interest named Satine). It makes sense of course, as the prequel trilogy make a big deal out of the fact that Jedi Knights are expressly forbidden for making any attachments of any kind, a rule Anakin Skywalker very much broke. But at the point we find old Obi-Wan once again, the Jedi Order is in ruins, and so are its archaic rules. Let Obi-Wan find some sort of love on his solo adventure, even if that love is ultimately doomed, as we know it must be.

Explain Obi-Wan’s Reputation With Tatooine Locals

So just how did Obi-Wan receive the reputation from the locals on Tatooine as “a crazy old wizard?” And aside from dropping a kid off at his front doorstep, why does Luke’s Uncle Owen seem to hate Obi-Wan so much? Doesn’t it feel like there’s an unknown story there, maybe about how the local farmers wanted protection from the Sand People from the ex-Jedi, and Obi-Wan’s refusal to cooperate led to disaster? It seems like Obi-Wan’s relationship to the residents of Tatooine should be the heart of a solo film for the character.

Keep The Empire Out Of It

A New Hope established that, for the most part, the Empire doesn’t care much about that ball of rock called Tatooine. So some kind of local problem Obi-Wan has while living on the planet should not draw their attention. In fact, I say we keep the Empire out of the whole thing, aside from a few casual references, and maybe a storm trooper in the background in a crowd scene somewhere. But this movie shouldn’t be about Obi-Wan vs. The Empire. Now, Jabba the Hutt? That could be interesting.

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What do you want to see most in an Obi-Wan Kenobi stand alone Star Wars film? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Lucasfilm

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