The production of the beloved animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars was filled with creative challenges, particularly for voice actor James Arnold Taylor, who brought Obi-Wan Kenobi to life. During a panel discussion at FanExpo, Taylor shared an amusing anecdote about pulling one over series creator George Lucas during the filming of the episode “Deception.”
In “Deception,” Obi-Wan goes undercover as the bounty hunter Rako Hardeen to uncover a conspiracy against Chancellor Palpatine. This drastic transformation presented an unusual challenge for Taylor, who was accustomed to embodying the lightsaber-wielding Jedi Master. He recalled receiving the script on the day of filming and immediately realizing the drastic change in Obi-Wan’s personality.
A Still From Obi-Wan (Via IMDB)
Despite initial concerns, Taylor embraced the opportunity to voice the cunning and mysterious Rako Hardeen. However, he had to convince Lucas that he was the right man for the job. Knowing Lucas’s aversion to Taylor voicing Rako Hardeen, his fellow actor Dave Filoni hatched a plan. With Taylor pretending to struggle with a cold, he recorded Obi-Wan’s lines in a deeper voice. Lucas, believing it was a deliberate character choice, readily accepted the performance.
This hilarious deception allowed Taylor to effortlessly slip into the role of Rako Hardeen, enriching the episode with a new dimension. The “Deception” episode became a testament to Taylor’s versatility and his ability to seamlessly embody different personalities.
