Thank you, Noel Gallagher, for teaching Ewan McGregor to lightsaber fight
Stunt coordinator and performer Nick Gillard has had a pretty exciting career, nabbing credits on such iconic films as Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, Aliens, and the Star Wars prequel films. But despite the years of hard work he spent training the cast of George Lucas’ second trilogy, Ewan McGregor is out here telling Jimmy Kimmel that none other than Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher taught young Obi-Wan how to lightsaber. Sorry, Nick, maybe wake us when you wrote “Wonderwall.”
Appearing via force projection video chat to promote his upcoming Netflix series Halston and the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ show, Ewan McGregor gave a rundown of his first impromptu lightsaber training at Noel Gallagher’s 30th birthday party back in the 90s. Less of a lesson and more of a “battle in the garden,” McGregor recalls a lightsaber duel breaking out but doesn’t remember who won, which probably means Noel did.
“Well, it was Noel Gallagher’s 30th birthday party and he lived quite close to me in London, north London,” said McGregor. “And I was at his party and then there was a lightsaber fight in his garden very early the next day in the morning. But I don’t remember too much instruction. I don’t remember any lessons being given by Noel. It was just more of a battle in the garden.”
When prodded by Kimmel for the results of the fight, McGregor said, “I would be surprised if either of us could remember that.”
If this is the first you’re hearing of Noel’s time as Ewan’s Jedi master, it stems from a long-running rumor that Gallagher addressed in an interview with StarWars.com in 2018. And, unlike McGregor’s diplomatic “I don’t remember who won,” Noel gives us the goods.