It’s no secret that Star Wars has been one of the most popular franchises in the world since it first began back in 1977, and the popularity has only grown since then. A New Hope expanded what people thought sci-fi was capable of, and audiences and fans immediately immersed themselves in the universe. Characters such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader became overnight icons and have stayed that way ever since. However, one other character from the original series has truly stood the test of time. He has become one of Star Wars’ most popular and prolific characters ever – Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The original Master Jedi began as a wise old man who showed Luke Skywalker the path of The Force, later becoming one of the main characters of the Star Wars prequels and The Clone Wars animated series. With how notable the character is, it was only a matter of time before he got his own solo project, and the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series is arguably the most anticipated Star Wars project ever. But aside from the titular Jedi, what other characters might make an appearance? (Take note: this article won’t cover confirmed characters, such as Darth Vader, young Luke Skywalker, or the Inquisitors)

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Darth Maul

     20th Century FoxLucasfilm Ltd.

If anybody has reason to show up in this series, it’s Maul. The prior Sith-Lord was a fan favorite in The Phantom Menace and had one of the longest histories with Obi-Wan (being cut in half after Maul killed Qui-Gon, their battles during The Clone Wars, etc.). The series is set to take place eight years after the conclusion of The Clone Wars – the same time period that the stand-alone movie Solo took place. As fans know, Darth Maul made a cameo appearance in that film. Pair the timing of his cameo and the fact that the two are mortal enemies, and it only makes sense that we’ll see another Maul-Kenobi face-off.

Yoda, Qui-Gon & Ahsoka

     Lucasfilm

Speaking of people from Obi-Wan’s past, it would also make sense (and be a great fan service) to bring back some familiar Jedi faces during the series. Yoda later became Luke’s Master after Obi-Wan sacrificed himself. He knew of Obi-Wan’s decision to look after Luke on Tattooine. While Yoda might not actually arrive on the planet, it makes sense that Yoda might not actually arrive on the planet. Obi-Wan and Yoda would have stayed in contact over the years through hologram communication.

Qui-Gon showing up as a spirit is a no-brainer. At the end of Revenge of the Sith, Yoda specifically tells Obi-Wan that he has “training” for him and has discovered a way to communicate with Qui-Gon’s spirit. As the series takes place eight years after that conversation, it makes sense that Obi-Wan might still be in the middle of that training. Or, if Obi-Wan has completed said training, Qui-Gon could be more than just a cameo and be a secondary character who routinely shows up to give Obi-Wan guidance.

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Ahsoka makes even more sense than Yoda or Qui-Gon. Audiences know that she abandoned her quest to become a Jedi, but she still practiced under Obi-Wan and Anakin for many years and has a long history with the Master of her former Master. Audiences also know that Ahsoka has confronted Vader in the Rebels animated series. With Vader confirmed to appear in the series, it only makes sense that Ahsoka might aid Obi-Wan in a confrontation with Vader. This live-action version of Ahsoka would have to be played by a different actress than Rosario Dawson, who plays Ahsoka in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, as it would be a much younger version of the character.

Cad Bane

     Disney+

There are more than a few reasons audiences should expect to see Cad Bane, the infamous bounty hunter, in the series. First, he’s another character that has a history with Kenobi. In The Clone Wars series, Bane’s last official appearance is when Kenobi thwarts his plans to abduct the Chancellor, which prompts Bane to swear that he’ll get Kenobi back. Audiences know that Bane made it out of whatever prison he was sent to due to his appearance in Rebels and The Book of Boba Fett, so it makes sense that Bane would show up for revenge against Obi-Wan.

The second reason is that Bane made his live-action debut in The Book of Boba Fett, another Star Wars show on Disney+ that takes place on Tattooine. So, why not just have him appear in the next one? The third and most important reason is that fans were unhappy about Bane dying in The Book of Boba Fett, so bringing him back as quickly as possible might be in Star Wars’ best interest.

Quinlan Vos, Cal Kestis

We’ve discussed some pretty well-known enemies and allies, but what about two characters that aren’t as well-known? Cal Kestis, played by Cameron Monaghan, was the star of the Fallen Order video game, which took place five years after the conclusion of The Clone Wars and centered primarily on the concept of the Inquisitors. With the Kenobi series taking place just three years later, Obi-Wan could use some help from an ally who has proven himself against the Jedi-Hunters.

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While Cal starred in his own game, most people have no idea who Quinlan Vos is. He was a Master Jedi who made a very minor appearance in The Phantom Menace and then had a single-episode appearance in The Clone Wars series. He was known as being the best tracker of all the Jedi thanks to his ability to use The Force to determine who touched certain objects. It was also revealed in a Star Wars comic that Quinlan Vos survived Order 66, meaning he’s still alive during the upcoming Kenobi series. With the entire point of the Inquisitors being that they hunt down Jedi, it makes perfect sense to have one last Jedi who is still using his tracking skills to hunt the Inquisitors down instead.