There was a lot of excitement for the Star Wars prequels before The Phantom Menace arrived in theaters, but when that movie was released in 1999, it definitely wasn't what a lot of fans had been hoping for. Attack of the Clones was also widely considered a disappointment, and for all the good Revenge of the Sith did, it also did a lot of bad.
Since then, the movies have become reviled among many, but the tide has slowly started to change in recent years. Those who grew up with those blockbusters have made their love of them known recently, something that became evident when Obi-Wan Kenobi was streaming on Disney+.
They probably won't ever be considered classics, but perhaps the Star Wars prequels aren't as bad as some fans and critics would have us believe? Ewan McGregor certainly doesn't think so, and he shared his take on the response to the movies during an interview with GQ while reflecting in his recent return to the franchise.
"To begin with, all we heard really was the critical side of things," the Obi-Wan Kenobi star explains. "That was the only voice I remember hearing, and they were not liked. I think the critics just wanted to feel like they were seven or eight again, and they didn't get that."
"So I was left with that [reaction] for years and years, and it took [until I started] meeting people, and I realised how important our films have been to them," McGregor continued. "I think [my relationship to the prequels] has changed for me as I've met more people in that generation."
"I admire George for having tried to do something different with them. He didn't just set out to make another three Star Wars films that felt like the original ones. I respected him for that. I think that's ballsy and interesting."
It must have been difficult for the cast to think everyone hated the Star Wars prequels, but it has become clear that there are lots of fans who feel differently. The way Obi-Wan Kenobi built on those has shown how important that era of storytelling is to this Galaxy Far, Far Away, and the same could be said for the renewed interest in Ahsoka Tano.
What did you think about the Star Wars prequels? Let us know your thoughts on McGregor's remarks in the comments section below and stay tuned for the latest on this iconic franchise.