This Sneaky 'Obi-Wan' Cameo Is More Important Than Most Fans Realize
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Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 2 spoilers.
Star Wars fans love a cheeky cameo as much as Anakin Skywalker hates sand, so it should come as no surprise that Obi-Wan Kenobi is already tapping some franchise veterans to appear in these first two episodes. But what we didn't expect to see was an actual "Veteran Clone Trooper" pop up so soon, and he's played by none other than Temuera Morrison, best known as Boba Fett.
The scene in question takes place early on in episode two when Obi-Wan is searching for Leia. As he wanders, a voice calls out asking if the Jedi can spare any credits: "Help a war veteran get a warm meal?" he asks.
At first, we only see the battered helmet this veteran now uses to hold his change, but when Kenobi gives him a few credits, we then cut to a close up of Temuera's heavily bearded yet still recognizable face.
Has Boba just fallen on hard times? No, as far as we can tell, this is actually just a random clone from the 501st Legion who shares the same face as Boba and all the other clones who now populate this galaxy far, far away. And from what we can see, this particular clone doesn't pop up again, at least not in these first two episodes.
That doesn't mean he's not important though.
The Clone Wars took a heavy toll on everyone, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, but what we don't often consider is what happened to the clones who were considered disposable once the war came to an end.
Much like real-world veterans, these conscripts were thrown aside and forgotten once they were no longer needed. In the Republic's eyes, they served their purpose, so what happened next no longer mattered. And the fact that they are faceless also rings true when it comes to how real-life governments perceive their own veterans as well.
But beyond that, there is also scope for some fun Temuera cameos in that classic Star Wars vein too. Not only is Morrison's likeness worn by thousands in this franchise, it also belongs to some really pivotal characters aside from Boba.
When asked by Washington Post if he might end up appearing in other shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Temuera immediately suggested Captain Rex, among others:
"Well, there are people — I’m thinking of Captain Rex for one. He looks a little like me. There’s Commander Cody. What happened to those guys? There’s all those clone armies. That could be something fresh and new and exciting."
Cody's involvement in this show in particular could bring an interesting dynamic given how he betrayed Kenobi for Order 66. But then again, Captain Rex is a fan favourite who's won viewers over in everything from Dave Filoni's Clones Wars cartoon to Star Wars Rebels and, most recently, The Bad Batch.
Any of these options could come to fruition as there's nothing to suggest that Temuera might be limited to just one cameo. However, if he does return in another role, beside that of "Veteran Clone Trooper", then it's possible that we might soon see Morrison play Echo in his live-action debut.
As Inverse recently pointed out, there's a trailer moment where the Grand Inquisitor confronts someone who looks like Temuera, except there are cybernetic ports on his neck.
As fans of The Clone Wars will remember, one of the clones, named Echo, was captured and experimented on. He was eventually rescued and went on to join The Bad Batch, but Echo was still scarred by this experience in more ways than one.
Admittedly, Echo's cybernetic ports are usually a bit higher, covering his ears, but minor changes are par for the course in that transition from animation to live-action. Just look at the small alterations Ahsoka, Cad Bane, and even the Grand Inquisitor have gone through.
All of these options hold so much dramatic potential for the show and fans alike, but moving forward, it would be particularly poignant to see more clone veterans pop up randomly throughout the rest of the series too, as well as in other shows set around this time too.
Because if this cameo is a one-off, then there's definitely some stunt casting going on here — just as a casual wink to the fans. But if Temuera appears consistently as various clones throughout, alongside those more recognizable characters, then it will speak more powerfully to this notion of these forgotten war veterans who live on the periphery of life.
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