Joel Edgerton (born June 23, 1974) is an actor who played Owen Lars in the prequel trilogy and the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series on Disney+. He is the brother of Ewan McGregor's stunt double, Nash Edgerton, who directed his brother in the action/comedy Gringo, starring David Oyelowo.
Previous film roles include Gawain in 2004's King Arthur, co-starring Keira Knightley, Mads Mikkelsen, Stellan Skarsgård, and Ray Stevenson.
Biography[]
Joel Edgerton was born on June 23, 1974.[1] He portrayed Owen Lars in the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones[2] after being casted by director George Lucas.[3] He said it was the only time in his life where a dream came true that he'd never have. Edgerton was envious of his brother, Nash Edgerton, because he was a stunt double for Ewan McGregor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the film.[4] While shooting Attack of the Clones in Tunisia, Edgerton filmed a scene for Episode III in which he is delivered the infant Luke Skywalker by Kenobi, played by a stand-in actor, because Lucas did not desire to return to Tunisia for that single shot years later.[5]
Edgerton also played Lars in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.[6] The scene of Edgerton receiving the infant Luke was changed during the Episode III shoot in September 2003, where McGregor was filmed handing baby Luke to Bonnie Maree Piesse who played Beru Lars, this time with Owen being played by an stand-in because Lucas "felt it would be better if Luke were handed over to a woman". In 2004, Edgerton was shot and added to the scene.[5]
In 2014, Edgerton heard about a rumored Obi-Wan Kenobi Anthology film and he expressed enthusiasm in reprising the role.[4] In 2017, Edgerton still wanted to reprise his role in the film and suggested that "he could go out and have some adventure and then he comes back and slips back into that unassuming moisture farmer role." Edgerton asked Colin Trevorrow,[7] the filmmaker originally going to direct Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker,[8] if he could return to Star Wars. Trevorrow told him he had already been in Star Wars and Edgerton suggested he could play someone else such as Boba Fett.[7]
On March 29, 2021, Lucasfilm Ltd. confirmed Edgerton was a cast member of the live-action Disney+ television series Obi-Wan Kenobi.[9] Director Deborah Chow was very excited to bring Edgerton and Piesse back to play Owen and Beru Lars, respectively, and she said their return was part of what made the series special.[10] Edgerton and Piesse were excited to see each other again. He thought Chow was an incredible director and had a good sense of camaraderie on set.[11] Grant Feely, the actor who played Luke Skywalker, made a connection with Edgerton. During filming, Chow instructed Feely how to film a certain shot and Edgerton translated the instructions into something Feely understood.[12]
Works[]
Filmography[]
Year | Title | Series | Contribution(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones | Owen Lars[2] | |
2005 | Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith | Owen Lars[6] | |
2022 | "Part I" | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Owen Lars[13] |
2022 | "Part VI" | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Owen Lars[14] |
Sources[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 This Week! in Star Wars New Hasbro Star Wars Toys, Your Jedi Poses, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
- ↑ See exclusive first-look photos from Obi-Wan Kenobi by Ross, Dalton on Entertainment Weekly (March 9, 2022) (archived from the original on March 11, 2022)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Exclusive: Joel Edgerton Wants to Reprise Uncle Owen in Star Wars by Evry, Max on Superhero Hype! (October 9, 2014) (archived from the original on October 2, 2018)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Making of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 How Joel Edgerton plans to get back into the 'Star Wars' movies by Guerrasio, Jason on Business Insider (June 8, 2017) (archived from the original on June 8, 2017)
- ↑ Colin Trevorrow to Direct Star Wars: Episode IX on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Obi-Wan Kenobi Series to Begin Production in April, Cast Revealed on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Inside the 17-year journey to reunite Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen for Obi-Wan Kenobi by Ross, Dalton on Entertainment Weekly (March 10, 2022) (archived from the original on March 10, 2022)
- ↑ Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
- ↑ Interview with the new Young Luke Skywalker from Obi-Wan Kenobi on the YoungEntMag YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ Obi-Wan Kenobi — "Part I"
- ↑ Obi-Wan Kenobi — "Part VI"