Joel Edgerton, born on June 23, 1974, is an actor notable for his portrayal of Owen Lars within the prequel trilogy, as well as in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series available on the Disney+ streaming service. His brother, Nash Edgerton, served as a stunt double for Ewan McGregor and also directed Joel in the action-comedy film Gringo, which featured David Oyelowo in a leading role.
His past roles in film include his portrayal of Gawain in the 2004 movie King Arthur, where he shared the screen with Keira Knightley, Mads Mikkelsen, Stellan Skarsgård, and Ray Stevenson.
Joel Edgerton's birthdate is June 23, 1974. He played the character Owen Lars in the 2002 movie Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, after being chosen for the part by director George Lucas. He has stated that this was the only time in his life that a dream he never thought possible came true. Edgerton admitted to feeling envious of his brother, Nash Edgerton, who worked as a stunt double for Ewan McGregor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the same film. While on location in Tunisia during the filming of Attack of the Clones, Edgerton participated in a scene intended for Episode III, where he receives the infant Luke Skywalker from Kenobi, played by a stand-in actor. Lucas chose not to return to Tunisia years later for that specific shot.
Edgerton also reprised his role as Lars in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. The scene featuring Edgerton receiving the infant Luke was altered during the Episode III shoot in September 2003. McGregor was filmed handing baby Luke to Bonnie Maree Piesse, who played Beru Lars, with a stand-in actor portraying Owen, because Lucas "felt it would be better if Luke were handed over to a woman". In 2004, Edgerton was filmed and inserted into the scene.
In 2014, Edgerton became aware of rumors surrounding a potential Obi-Wan Kenobi Anthology film and expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility of returning to the role. By 2017, Edgerton remained eager to reprise his role in the film, suggesting that "he could go out and have some adventure and then he comes back and slips back into that unassuming moisture farmer role." Edgerton inquired with Colin Trevorrow, who was originally slated to direct Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, about the possibility of returning to Star Wars. Trevorrow pointed out that he had already been in Star Wars, prompting Edgerton to suggest that he could portray a different character, such as Boba Fett.
On March 29, 2021, Lucasfilm Ltd. officially announced that Edgerton was among the cast of the live-action Disney+ television series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Director Deborah Chow expressed her excitement about bringing Edgerton and Piesse back to portray Owen and Beru Lars, respectively, stating that their return contributed significantly to the series' unique appeal. Both Edgerton and Piesse were delighted to reunite. He regarded Chow as a remarkable director who fostered a strong sense of camaraderie on set. Grant Feely, the actor playing Luke Skywalker, developed a bond with Edgerton. During the filming process, Chow would give Feely instructions for specific shots, and Edgerton would then translate those instructions into terms that Feely could easily understand.