Ewan McGregor "Obi-Wan Kenobi" Bladed Hero Lightsaber from Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (TCF, 1999). ... (Total: 2 Items)

Description

Ewan McGregor "Obi-Wan Kenobi" Bladed Hero Lightsaber from Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (TCF, 1999).
"Every saga has a beginning..."

In the early months of 1999, anticipation could not have been higher as promotion ramped up for the release of what was to be the first of three new "Star Wars" films helmed by George Lucas. The cover of February's Vanity Fair Magazine that year boldly stated, "The Force Is Back At Last!" and featured exclusive images shot by famed photographer Annie Liebowitz on location in Tunisia, giving rabid fans one of their first good looks at new prequel-era heroes and villains in a galaxy far, far away... including Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi, leaping through the air, lightsaber ablaze!

Beginning with Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, George Lucas set out to tell the backstory of a young Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker's fall to the Dark Side of the Force. Ewan McGregor's youthful take on the beloved Jedi character had to anchor the new films and act as the primary bridge for audiences between George Lucas's original trilogy of "Star Wars" films and the new. More than twenty years later, Ewan McGregor's standout performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi coupled with his lightning-fast skills with a lightsaber are universally considered a major highlight of the "Star Wars" prequel films. With his historic return to the iconic role this summer in the Disney+ limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ewan McGregor has forever cemented his foundational "Star Wars Saga" legacy.

"Every journey has a first step..."

In addition to at least one machined, "hero" lightsaber prop hilt being created for Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi by the props department on The Phantom Menace for insert filming, it was decided that a "bladed hero" version would also be required to be built as all of the other "bladed stunt" versions of the Kenobi lightsaber props were simple, rough, painted resin castings of the "hero" without the quality of detailing necessary to stand up to the scrutiny of close-up filming and promotional photography.

To create this unique "bladed hero" version of Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber, a "bladed stunt" version of the prop was chosen as the starting point for the build as it featured the necessary piece of embedded "all thread rod" molded into the cast resin to attach an aluminum blade to. From there, modifications were made to add design elements identical to the machined hero hilt. The cast resin "emitter end cap" at the base of the blade was removed and replaced with a custom machined metal cap. Additional "greeblies" originating from the Lucasfilm Archives from the production of the original trilogy films were also attached to the resin body of the lightsaber, including a knurled red button, copper bike valve adapter, rubber gaskets, and LED bezels. Every single other prop lightsaber to ever surface from The Phantom Menace in private hands, including those used by Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul includes these protruding "greeblie" elements as simple, painted resin cast elements - this lightsaber prop is singularly significant and uniquely rare in its construction.

"Every generation has a legend..."

Veteran stuntman Nick Gillard had previously worked with George Lucas on the Indiana Jones franchise and was brought on board for the three new "Star Wars" prequel films to bring to life George Lucas's vision of finally showcasing the Jedi and Sith fighting at the height of their powers. During the production of The Phantom Menace, Gillard would create all of the lighting fast fight choreography and personally train actors Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson for hours on end each day, for weeks, so that they could convincingly perform as much of the fast-paced lightsaber combat as possible without the need of stunt doubles. When filming wrapped on the prequel "Star Wars" trilogy in 2004, producers gifted Nick Gillard a collection of screen used lightsaber props as a "thank you" for his significant contribution as swordmaster and stunt coordinator across all three films.

In an email correspondence with Nick Gillard in 2018 regarding this specific "bladed hero" Obi-Wan Kenobi lightsaber prop, he shared the following: "The Obi-Wan was used as a hero and photographic saber. It was the one we used in the Annie Leibovitz photos of Obi and Maul in the desert. In those days, ILM didn't care too much about what color the blade was as they were changing it anyway, so that's how it ended up red. The guy that made it had a box he got from the Archive with small bits and pieces, bezels, etc. He told me that he put some bits on that saber. The Obi-Wan is Ep1 and a bit special as it has some original film parts, just so you don't confuse it with a normal one. All of those ones are rare, the hero Obi the rarest." This one-of-a-kind, "hero" Obi-Wan Kenobi lightsaber hilt and blade comes from stunt coordinator Nick Gillard's personal collection and includes a letter of authenticity from him.

Original screen-used Obi-Wan Kenobi props from the Star Wars Saga are incredibly rare and sought after. With Ewan McGregor reprising his seminal role for the first time in 20-years and once again picking up his lightsaber to duel his former apprentice and friend, Darth Vader, in the epic new Disney+ mini-series, interest in and values of Obi-Wan Kenobi pieces are skyrocketing. This piece represents the most significant Obi-Wan Kenobi lightsaber prop from Ewan McGregor's first appearance as the character in Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace outside of the Lucasfilm Archive and is the only known "bladed hero" example of Kenobi's lightsaber in existence. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

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