It has now been reported that Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman filmed scenes reprising her role as Padmé Amidala for the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi-only for those scenes to ultimately be cut from the final version of the show.
The shocking news has taken fans by surprise, especially considering the emotional and narrative potential that Padmé’s character could have added to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s journey.
A Surprising Behind-the-Scenes Discovery
Well, all this came to light when he made an appearance on The Hot Mic podcast hosted by John Rocha. It was none other than insider Jeff Sneider who let out bombshell details that she had shot scenes for Obi-Wan Kenobi while at work on Thor: Love and Thunder in 2022. Sneider said, “She previously did shoot some stuff for the Obi-Wan show while working on [Thor], but it didn’t make the final cut.”
The admission has piqued the curiosity of Star Wars fans who thought perhaps a bit about Padmé’s legacy would be seen somehow in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Of course, because it’s a decade after Revenge of the Sith, the series follows Obi-Wan through some inner turmoil, reflecting on his past relationships. In that regard, this would have felt like an emotional and poignant opportunity to see Padmé in this context, given what the character means to the Star Wars saga as a whole.
Why Was Padmé Cut from the Show?
While it is not exactly known why the scenes featuring Padmé were cut, such a decision certainly raises questions about what storytelling direction Obi-Wan Kenobi is taking. The series had emotional stakes as it dove deep into the guilt and loneliness Obi-Wan felt after the fall of Anakin Skywalker.
Padmé’s presence, as the mother of Luke and Leia, would have added layers of complexity to the character’s arc. Not only would she have provided Obi-Wan a chance to reflect on the bond he once shared with Anakin, but her appearance could have deepened the sense of loss and mourning that permeates Obi-Wan’s story.
For many fans of the Star Wars franchise, the presence of Padmé—integral in their minds to Anakin’s fall to becoming Darth Vader—would provide an emotional bookend, and one that might have framed much of Obi-Wan’s angst about his failure in saving his friend and former Padawan.
Impact of the Absence of Padmé
The lack of inclusion of scenes featuring Padmé raises some interesting editorial decisions made regarding Obi-Wan Kenobi. Whereas Star Wars shows have long been known for their heavy world-building and ability to weave in complex narratives, this cut feels like a missed opportunity to provide more depth to Obi-Wan’s inner conflict.
In their minds, fans have probably cemented the notion that one of the saddest and most pivotal aspects of the entire prequel series was Padmé’s part in Anakin’s fall to darkness, so not seeing that explored in Obi-Wan Kenobi might feel like a real missed opportunity.
That being said, to this day, Portman’s performance as Padmé is among the defining aspects of the prequels. Her dignified, passionate expression of the character gained her much admiration, and to this day, her return in Obi-Wan Kenobi feels like one of those rare chances when fans can get to see again a favorite character in a different light.
Their absence, without further explanation, has kept the audience pondering whether it was a creative or narrative reason for doing so, or if those scenes simply didn’t fit in with the series’ direction.
What Could Have Been: Speculation and Fan Reactions
Since neither Lucasfilm nor Disney has made any comments about the content of the cut scenes, fans have been left to theorize what the inclusion of Padmé actually would have meant.
Was it a vision, or was it a flashback? Could there have been this really poignant moment of Obi-Wan and Padmé looking over their shared history with Anakin? It’s unclear, but there really are a million possibilities.
On social media, the denizens of Star Wars reacted from disappointment to curiosity. “Well, now-a lost opportunity to really develop emotion into that series,” as voiced by others speculating on the character Padmé for any future in the Star Wars universe.
For the overall critical reception of the series, generally positive in content, some just don’t believe this could’ve ever reached great depth with the placement of Padmé as part of Obi-Wan’s journey.
The Complexities of Editing Within the Star Wars Universe
Editing and cutting scenes for big franchises like Star Wars is not something new, but it says volumes when such an important character has been axed from the record. The Star Wars universe is large and ever-expanding, with so many different variants on which to decide, each profoundly changing how any one given story will feel.
While it’s obvious that Padmé’s appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi could have been a powerful appearance, possibly the core reasoning is that Lucasfilm decided her appearance simply didn’t serve the story in the way they wanted.
Ultimately, the cut scenes from Obi-Wan Kenobi remain a tantalizing “what if” for Star Wars fans. For now, the mystery surrounding Padmé’s filmed scenes continues to fuel curiosity, speculation, and conversation, leaving many to wonder if we will ever get a glimpse of what could have been.
With more on the way for Star Wars, such as Ahsoka and now the recently announced The Acolyte, one can’t help but hope someday it would bring back the story of Padmé Amidala and wouldn’t let the chance get away for a full and worthy exploration of this character in the post-Prequel Star Wars world.
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