The Star Wars shows just keep coming. Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, almost evenly between the Prequel and Original Trilogies. This setting provides plenty of opportunities to connect the show to other parts of the saga, including with some very surprising cameos. In just the first two episodes, Obi-Wan reluctantly leaves his mournful vigil over Luke Skywalker to help out an old friend from the Prequels, finding himself in the crosshairs of both bounty hunters and ruthless Imperial Inquisitors who serve Darth Vader. All to save an iconic Original Trilogy character! Here are all the Star Wars references, easter eggs, and cameos we spotted in the two-episode premiere… You can read more about Blair here.
Flea
Vect Nokru, the leader of the mercenary band that kidnaps Leia, is played by Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This is far from Flea’s first nerdy role. He also played Marty’s nemesis Needles in the Back to the Future movies!
Grant Feely as Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker may not be the focus of Obi-Wan’s attention in this series, but we still get to see him playing around the Lars homestead. That’s newcomer Grant Feely stepping into the boots of the iconic Star Wars hero.
Bail and Breha Organa
Jimmy Smits reprises his Prequel role as Leia’s adoptive father Bail Organa. Simone Kessell plays Leia’s mother Breha Organa, replacing Rebecca Jackson Mendoza from the Prequels. Star Wars books established she has glowing cybernetics replacing some of her organs, but they aren’t visible in the TV version.
Alderaan
While peaceful Alderaan most recently appeared in live action in Revenge of the Sith, it’s most famous as the planet Grand Moff Tarkin blew up to demonstrate Death Star’s power in A New Hope. Pity. At least Obi-Wan Kenobi gives us our most extensive look at Alderaan yet.
Temuera Morrison!
Temuera Morrison, star of The Book of Boba Fett and the actor behind Boba and Jango Fett, as well as all of the clones in the Prequels, plays the clone beggar on Daiyu.
Benny Safdie
The Jedi on the run named Nari is played by Benny Safdie, one half of the directing duo that directed the excellent thriller films Good Time and Uncut Gems.
C-3PO and R2-D2
Sharp eyes can spot C-3PO (played by Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 in the background of the Alderaan party. You might recall they went with the Organas in Revenge of the Sith just as Leia did, setting up their famous role in the opening of A New Hope.
The Inquisitors
The Inquisitors were introduced in the Rebels animated series as Darth Vader’s right-hand Jedi hunters. The Grand Inquisitor had a significant role as a main antagonist in Rebels, with the Fifth Brother showing up as one his lackeys. The Third and Fourth Sisters are new, although the latter was first mentioned in Star Wars Adventures comics.
Owen and Beru Lars
Owen and Beru Lars are played by the same actors who took on the roles in the Prequels, Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse.
Order 66
– The Jedi in the Order 66 flashback is named Master Minas Velti, a new character played by stunt performer Ming Qiu, whose work you’ve also watched in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. – The clones who stormed the Jedi Temple were from Anakin’s 501st Legion, as is the beggar clone on Daiyu.
1-JAC, Not 4-LOM
The bug-eyed droid bounty hunter modeled after The Empire Strikes Back‘s 4-LOM is actually a new assassin named 1-JAC. But what we really want to know who is that dinosaur-looking assassin guy?
Aliens
– If you take a closer look at the episode, you might spot the elephant-trunked Aki-Aki species, introduced in The Rise of Skywalker. Their planet, Pasaana, was where Rey and friends attended the festival, met up with Lando, and discovered Ochi of Bestoon’s ship. – One of the mercenaries helping Flea is a Falleen, the reptilian species introduced in Shadows of the Empire. While their most famous member may still be the infamous Prince Xizor, they’ve appeared elsewhere throughout both canon and the Legends continuity. – Other Sequel aliens in Kenobi crowd scenes include the wide-mouthed Keteerian from The Last Jedi. The many-eyed Boosodian and the space helmet-wearing Shungbeek are both from The Rise of Skywalker. – Two Zabraks (Darth Maul’s species, originating in The Phantom Menace) serve as bruisers, one as a mercenary and one working in the drug lab.
Eopie
Obi-Wan rides an eopie, a camel-like creature. It was first seen in The Phantom Menace, as were some of the episode’s other Tatooine creatures.
Merson Pirates and Aquillian Rangers
Leia speculates that the starships she sees might belong to Merson pirates and Aquillian rangers. These are very deep cuts from early Star Wars comics and an unproduced draft of the Original Trilogy respectively.
Purrgils
Bail Organa mentions once having aspirations to chase purrgil, the giant space whales that first appeared in Rebels.
