Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor are famous for playing the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, but several other actors almost got the part. Introduced in the first Star Wars movie (later retitled A New Hope by George Lucas), Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most important characters in the entire franchise. Viewers have seen him as a Padawan, a Jedi Master, and ultimately as a Force Ghost.

Obi-Wan Kenobi has been played by multiple different actors, though most notably in live-action Sir Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor have taken on the role. Both actors did an amazing job grounding the films and television shows they were featured in and gave compelling performances that led to Obi-Wan becoming a fan favorite. Despite the two actors' superb performances, Obi-Wan was almost brought to life by other actors. Here are six actors who were almost cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

6 Hugh Jackman

Australian actor Hugh Jackman may be best known for playing Wolverine for the past 23 years, but he almost played the fan-favorite Jedi; only McGregor's star power swung the decision in his favor. It's probably for the best that Jackman didn't get to join Star Wars, because this would have meant he would have missed out on X-Men. Ironically, this wouldn't be the only time Jackman was passed over for a major blockbuster role; he's been considered for the likes of Jack Sparrow, Tony Stark, and even James Bond.

5 Kenneth Branagh

Classically trained and a skilled Shakespearean actor, Kenneth Branagh was considered for the role of Obi-Wan because he would be able to elevate George Lucas' sometimes choppy dialogue. It's unclear why Branagh was passed up by Lucas, but it's likely age was a factor; he is about 11 years older than McGregor, and it would have been difficult to pass him off as a young Jedi just finishing his time as a Padawan. Branagh may have missed the part of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but the accomplished actor's career has gone from strength to strength, embracing the role of Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter movies and Hercule Poirot in three Agatha Christie adaptations.

Related: Star Wars: 6 Actors Considered To Play Qui-Gon (& 4 Who Almost Played Obi-Wan)

4 Joseph Fiennes

Joseph Fiennes may best be known for portraying William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, but he was nearly cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi. According to Fiennes, Lucas’ daughter thought he was weird, and that led to George Lucas excusing Fiennes from the audition. This hasn't been confirmed by Lucasfilm, but it's still an amusing anecdote. Fiennes has gone on to have a very successful career both on the screen and on stage. He played Monsignor Timothy Howard in ten episodes of American Horror Story: Asylum, and Commander Fred Waterford on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. He’s also played the Shakespeare villain Iago in a West End London stage production of Othello. Most recently in 2023, Fiennes has portrayed James Graham in Dear England at the National Royal Theatre in London.

3 Toshiro Mifune

Most of the entries on this list have been for the prequel-era role of Obi-Wan Kenobi; however, Sir Alec Guinness wasn’t George Lucas’ first choice to play the Jedi Master. In fact, Lucas originally planned Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune to take the part. After the actor’s death in 1997, his daughter revealed that Mifune not only turned down the role of Obi-Wan but Darth Vader as well. Mifune thought A New Hope would look cheap and would hurt the image of the samurai.

Mifune has over 170 acting credits, most of which were Japanese productions, though the actor did have a few roles in US productions like Picture Bride and Winter Kills. Mifune may best be known for his roles in jidaigeki films directed by Akira Kurosawa like Seven Samurai or Throne of Blood. Given Mifune’s experience wielding a blade, it’s no wonder Lucas wanted him for the role of the wise older Jedi.

Related: 10 Actors Who Almost Played Princess Leia In Star Wars

2 Peter Cushing

George Lucas always knew he wanted Peter Cushing in his Star Wars movies and initially envisioned him playing Obi-Wan Kenobi. On meeting Cushing in person, Lucas decided he wasn't right for the role of Obi-Wan and instead offered him the chance to become Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars. Cushing would be nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Saturn Awards for his portrayal of the Imperial officer. The late Peter Cushing's career only grew more prestigious throughout his life, involving everything from Doctor Who to Hammer House of Horror.

1 Tim Roth

Lucas considered Tim Roth for the part of Obi-Wan Kenobi after he appeared in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction; he was nominated for an Academy award for the role of Archibald Cunningham in Rob Roy. Much like Branagh, Roth would have been in his mid-to-late thirties when he joined Star Wars, so wouldn't have worked for the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi. Still, hopefully he'll join the franchise in the end regardless.