Lucasfilm’s highly-anticipated prequel spin-off, Obi-Wan Kenobi, has added its first new cast member. According to Deadline, Indira Varma has joined the series in an undisclosed role. The actress is perhaps best known for her work on HBO’s smash hit Game of Thrones, where she portrayed the cunning Ellaria Sand for four years. Details surrounding the Disney+ limited outing have been kept tightly under wraps since its official announcement at 2019’s D23 Expo but it will shed some light on the titular Jedi’s time in exile between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
Before today, the only known cast members were fan-favorite Ewan McGregor, who was reprising his acclaimed role as Kenobi, and Hayden Christensen, making a surprise return to the franchise. He will return to portray the villainous Darth Vader. While we don’t know who Varma will be playing just yet, her striking facial features and British origins seem to line up nicely with The Clone Wars‘ Duchess Satine. Many fans have speculated that Obi-Wan’s love interest might appear via flashback in his upcoming solo project. Only time will tell if this theory pans out.
Kenobi will begin filming last year, but various script rewrites and a global pandemic have delayed the process on more than one occasion. The series will enter production in the spring, with director Deborah Chow on board to run it. Chow proved her directing chops, and her handle on the Star Wars universe to fans with some stellar work on the first season of The Mandalorian. The time she spent there will surely come in use when Kenobi utilizes the same innovative StageCraft technology to stay safe in these turbulent times and bring the sands of Tatooine to life.
Source: Deadline
