The Disney+ series put the Jedi Master on a collision course with Darth Vader, as it came to an end. The final part of the series ended on a dramatic, emotional, and cathartic close between the two before their final fight. For a Star Wars show focused on the Sith Lord's exploits, how well-orchestrated their last fight in Obi-Wan was could tell.
Lucasfilm could show a side of the Force that hasn't been explored on-screen with the help of Disney's willingness to show Vader's rage and armorclad villain in action.
While a Darth Vader-led TV series would continue beating the dead horse that is the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, it would also be an exciting way to embrace a bit more. A show with Vader as an unconventional main character would be an exciting spin on what the studio typically develops with the intellectual property.
With Obi-Wan Kenobi taking place 10 years after the events of RotS and ANH taking place another nine years after that, a Darth Vader Star Wars series could position itself on either side of the show. Vader was the leader of the Great Jedi Purge after the Empire established its vice grip and enacted Order 66.
There are a lot of hardcore exploits to write for the villain. Supplemental materials in the Star Wars franchise show that there were enough Jedi runaways after Order 66 to create compelling storylines, so it's not that far off to do that again.
Disney was willing to show Darth Vader walking down the street killing people in the most brutal way, which was shocking. Lucasfilm might have more creative wiggle room in depicting a villain than we might think, as shown by the fact that an entire show couldn't be pure violence for the sake of shock value
The days of stiff technology required for Vader's suit on set are behind us, as evidenced by the work done by the actor. In the finale of Part VI, the fallen Jedi was shown in all his glory, thanks to the action choreographers.
Since the original trilogy, Darth Vader's darker psychology has been brought to life in live-action. Vader was the most vulnerable character we have ever seen, and it could make for compelling serialized stories to give viewers a closer look at the cracks that would eventually lead to his break and redemption in Return of the Jedi.
Vader's final scene in Obi-Wan Kenobi with Emperor Palpatine suggested this even more clearly, with the former showing his emotions become more unstable even by Sith standards, and the latter suggesting he might be ineligible for duty because of this. He redeemed himself in his son's eyes when he destroyed the Emperor, but it was a small sign.
Comic books are a good source of reference material for stories like this. Accomplished industry writers such as Kieron Gillen, Greg pak, and Charles Soule have written for the comic book company.
He is now a Creative Consultant for Lucasfilm. If not being put directly in a writers' room for a Darth Vader Disney+ series, his creative guidance, given his hands-on experience writing the character in comics, could prove valuable in translation.
It would be an admitted challenge to not be similar to what Soule, Gillen, and more have said. There are gaps before and after Obi-Wan Kenobi that could give room for an original story.
Since Disney acquired George Lucas' intellectual property, the current line of Star Wars comics are firmly canon to the main timeline, so while breaking canon would reasonably be out of the question, weaving original stories with adaptation of moments from the comics could simultaneously justify a Vader series.
One way to compromise over live-action is to create an animated Darth Vader series. The general public thinks of Star Wars as a primarily live-action and theatrical franchise, but the likes of Dave Filoni planted their flag on the sci-fi fantasy epic with beloved shows.
The shows retroactively provided context and stories that helped contribute to the resurgence of the movies. In Rebels, Darth Vader was just as imposing a figure as fans would expect from him in live action.
Filoni has taken up a higher role within Lucasfilm and had a hand in Disney+'s acclaimed The Mandalorian and will have a hand in the Ahsoka series in the years to come.
As far as the voice behind the mask goes, as great as it would be to have Christensen continue his comeback and get more of those brief yet gripping scenes outside the helmet, actor Matt Lanter has more than proven his chops in the recording studio and has become a fan favorite for Anakin Skywalker
Lucasfilm wants to take Star Wars forward at some point in the future. It is possible that embracing the Dark Side of the Force with Darth Vader is one more way to make the saga worthwhile.
You can watch all six episodes of Obi-Wan on Disney+. Check out our list of what's new on Disney+ to find out more.
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