Ewan McGregor briefly reprised his role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and as it turns out, this was a very last-minute decision.
In an interview with Collider, McGregor revealed that he only became involved in the new Star Wars a few weeks before its release.
"I was literally emailed by JJ Abrams. I don’t know how he got my email, but he emailed me out of the blue weeks before the film came out," McGregor said. "Like really, weeks, saying 'I really feel like you should be involved somehow.'"
McGregor provided the voice of Obi-Wan during Rey's vision sequence: the scene ends with McGregor saying, "‘Rey...these are your first steps." In addition, original Obi-Wan actor Alec Guinness can briefly be heard saying "Rey," which was accomplished by cutting up a preexisting clip of Guinness saying "Don't be afraid," J.J. Abrams told Entertainment Weekly.
McGregor told Collider that he had been patiently awaiting a call about Star Wars: The Force Awakens and after receiving Abrams' email and finishing a movie he was working on, he jumped on his motorbike, rode over to the Disney lot and recorded the dialogue. He also said he watched a lot of Alec Guinness scenes in order to get the inflection exactly right.
It's unclear whether we'll ever see Ewan McGregor on screen in another Star Wars, but rumors have continuously popped up about a potential Obi-Wan spinoff. It's still just speculation, but McGregor has stated he would be up for a return if Disney wants him, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“I’d be happy to do the story from episodes three where I finish up and Alec Guinness starts,” McGregor said.