Dave Filoni Explains Why Grand Inquisitor Looked Completely Different in Live-Action

Inquisitor
Credit: Lucasfilm

Inquisitor
Credit: Lucasfilm

Fans are always ecstatic when Lucasfilm brings beloved characters from the Star Wars animated shows to live-action simply because they are intrigued as to how they'll end up looking. So far, Disney's Star Wars shows have brought several characters to life — from Ahsoka Tano to Cad Bane and while their appearances were slightly altered, they still essentially carry the aesthetical attributes of their animated counterparts.

Cad Bane
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Credit: Lucasfilm

However, the same thing can't be said for the live-action version of the notorious villain Grand Inquisitor who made his debut in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. When the show unveiled its official trailer last March, fans noticed right off the bat that the character, played by Rupert Friend looked nothing like he did in other mediums.

In an interview with StarWars.com, Propmaster Brad Elliott recalled one instance where Dave Filoni told him to "Imagine the live-action came first, and that the animated material was an exaggerated version of the live-action".

Elliott explains the reason behind the Grand Inquisitor's different look, saying: "This gave us permission to keep the form factor of the props established in animation, but to control the proportions and to bring them more in line with props made for human hands versus animated ones."

Also Read: Star Wars: Darth Vader’s Inquisitors were Originally Pulled Out from Obi-Wan Kenobi

Speaking of the Grand Inquisitor, while the creators of Obi-Wan Kenobi have continued to play coy on the possibility of doing a second season, his "survival" seems like a dead giveaway that the leader of the Inquisitorius will come back along with the Jedi Master and the Sith Lord.


All episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi are available for streaming on Disney+.