In a recent episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, actor Ewan McGregor shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes story from his time filming the Star Wars movies. McGregor, who played the iconic character Obi-Wan Kenobi, revealed the challenges of acting against green screens and CGI.
McGregor began by acknowledging the sheer magnitude of the Star Wars production and the legacy that comes with it. He explained that as the series progressed, he found himself working with fewer and fewer actual actors. McGregor humorously suggested that perhaps the rest of the cast simply didn’t like him.
By the third film, McGregor’s character was sent off on a solo adventure, which involved him being chased through a galactic environment. He couldn’t quite recall the specific location, jokingly mentioning Tatooine as a possibility. It seems that the greenscreen-heavy scenes were a bit disorienting for McGregor.
One particular moment stands out as the most challenging for McGregor. At the end of the trilogy, his character delivers Luke Skywalker to Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Excited about the significance of the scene, McGregor invited his friends to watch. However, when McGregor arrived on set, he was greeted by a vast green box that served as the backdrop. All he had was a plastic baby wrapped in a towel.
Caught off guard, McGregor was expecting to arrive on a lizard or some other prop. Much to his surprise, there was no actual “thing” for him to ride. With his friends and even George Lucas watching, McGregor humorously recalls the anticlimactic moment of waving the plastic baby in the air without any movement or special effects.
After handing off the baby to Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, McGregor was instructed by Lucas to look at the moons. This, apparently, led to confusion among the cast and crew, as nobody was entirely sure of their location in the green void of the set. McGregor then amusingly describes his walk back to his trailer, unsure if Lucas had turned around and witnessed the spectacle.
McGregor’s story offers a glimpse into the challenges and quirks of filming with green screens and CGI effects. Despite the comedic mishaps, McGregor’s portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi remains iconic, and his ability to navigate the unique requirements of the Star Wars universe is a testament to his talent.
Fans of The Jonathan Ross Show were surely entertained as McGregor shared this hilarious anecdote, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the often surreal world of filmmaking.
