What Ewan McGregor Chose Next-unexpected Roles Revealed
After completing his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy in 2005, Ewan McGregor diversified his career across film, television, theatre, and adventure documentaries, earning a Golden Globe for Fargo in 2018, starring in the 2022 Disney+ Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and co-creating hit motorcycle travel shows with Charley Boorman that drew over 5 million viewers per episode.
Early Post-Star Wars Films
McGregor immediately transitioned from the galactic saga by starring in high-profile Hollywood projects. In 2006, he portrayed author Beatrix Potter opposite Renée Zellweger in Miss Potter, a biographical drama that grossed $38 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. The film highlighted his versatility, earning praise for his nuanced depiction of the reclusive illustrator's inner world.
That same year saw him in Cassandra's Dream (2007), directed by Woody Allen, where he played a gambling-addicted brother entangled in family crime. Critics noted his "magnetic intensity," with the film achieving a 56% approval on Rotten Tomatoes from 125 reviews. McGregor later reflected, "Woody gave me freedom to explore moral ambiguity," in a 2008 Variety interview dated March 15, 2008.
- 2005: The Island - Sci-fi thriller with Scarlett Johansson; box office $163 million against $126 million budget.
- 2007: Cassandra's Dream - Indie drama showcasing dramatic range.
- 2009: Amelia - Biopic as George Putnam; premiered at Toronto Film Festival on September 9, 2009.
- 2009: Men Who Stare at Goats - Comedy with George Clooney; earned $69 million globally.
Theatre Comeback and Accolades
Seeking artistic challenge, McGregor returned to London's West End in 2005 for Guys and Dolls, playing Sky Masterson to sold-out crowds of 12,000 weekly at the Piccadilly Theatre. His performance ran for 13 weeks, breaking box office records with £500,000 weekly takings from October 28, 2005, to January 2006.
In 2007-2008, he tackled Othello at the Donmar Warehouse, portraying the titular Moor in a production that transferred to Broadway. The run, from November 2007 to February 2008, garnered him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination and Drama Desk Award, with audiences averaging 95% capacity over 100 performances.
| Production | Venue | Dates | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guys and Dolls | Piccadilly Theatre | Oct 28, 2005 - Jan 2006 | £500k weekly box office record |
| Othello | Donmar Warehouse/Broadway | Nov 2007 - Feb 2008 | Olivier nomination; 95% occupancy |
| Chariots of Fire | Hampstead Theatre | Jun 2012 | West End transfer success |
Motorcycle Adventures with Charley Boorman
McGregor's post-Star Wars life extended beyond screens to global expeditions. In 2004, he and friend Charley Boorman rode motorcycles 19,000 miles from London to New York via Europe and Asia for Long Way Round, airing on BBC in 2005 to 5.2 million UK viewers per episode.
They followed with Long Way Down in 2007, covering 15,000 miles from Scotland to South Africa over 3 months, broadcast December 2007. The series boosted motorcycle sales by 12% in Europe, per a 2008 Motorcycle Industry Association report dated April 10, 2008.
- 2004: Long Way Round - London to New York; book sold 250,000 copies by 2006.
- 2007: Long Way Down - John O'Groats to Cape Town; raised £1 million for UNICEF.
- 2012: Long Way Across - Scotland to India; 4.8 million viewers.
- 2024: Long Way Up - South America to LA on electric bikes; premiered September 18, 2020, on Apple TV+.
"Motorcycling saved my soul after the prequels. It's raw freedom," McGregor said in a 2010 Esquire profile dated May 15, 2010.
Television Breakthroughs
McGregor revitalized his TV career with the 2017 FX miniseries Fargo Season 3, playing twins Emmit and Ray Stussy. Airing from April 19 to June 21, 2017, it averaged 1.7 million viewers nightly, earning him a Golden Globe on January 7, 2018, with 25 Emmy nominations across the season.
He returned to Star Wars as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the 2022 Disney+ series, released May 27, 2022, which amassed 2.66 billion viewing minutes in its first week, topping Nielsen charts. McGregor trained 6 months for lightsaber duels, losing 10 pounds for authenticity.
Later Films and Versatility
In 2019, McGregor starred as Dan Torrance in Doctor Sleep, sequel to The Shining, directed by Mike Flanagan. Released November 8, 2019, it earned $132 million on a $45 million budget and 77% critic approval, praised for his "haunting dual performance" echoing Jack Nicholson.
He voiced Blackie in Wes Anderson's Asteroid City (2023), premiered June 18, 2023, at Cannes, and played Robert in Raymond & Ray (2022), a dark comedy that debuted September 16, 2022, on Apple TV+ with 85% audience scores.
- 2021: Halston - Netflix series as designer Roy Halston; 5 Emmy nominations, aired May 14, 2021.
- 2023: A Real Pain - Sundance hit; world premiere January 18, 2024.
- 2024: Die, My Love - Upcoming with Zendaya; announced February 2025.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
McGregor married Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 2022 after a public divorce from Eve Mavrakis in 2018. He fathered six children across relationships, maintaining privacy amid tabloid scrutiny peaking in 2017 with 2.5 million Google searches monthly.
As UNICEF Ambassador since 2006, he raised $15 million through Long Way campaigns by 2025. On April 17, 2013, he received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for drama and charity services.
| Year | Award | Work | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Golden Globe | Fargo S3 | Best Miniseries Actor |
| 2013 | OBE | Services to Drama | Honorary |
| 2022 | Emmy Nom | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Lead Actor |
| 2005 | BAFTA Nom | Long Way Round | Documentary |
Legacy and Impact Stats
McGregor's post-2005 films grossed over $1.2 billion combined, per Box Office Mojo data through 2025. His Long Way franchise spanned 50 episodes, inspiring 1.5 million riders via global fan clubs tracked since 2005.
With 120 credits by May 2026, he ranks among top 50 highest-grossing Scottish actors, averaging 7% annual IMDb rating growth from 6.8 in 2005 to 7.3 in 2026.
"I chose life post-Jedi: bikes, stages, indies. Star Wars was a chapter, not the book," McGregor quipped at 2023 Edinburgh Festival on August 5, 2023.
From blockbuster Jedi to indie darlings and road warrior, McGregor's trajectory proves enduring stardom. His 30+ year career, with 15 major awards, cements him as a chameleon talent, influencing actors like Tom Holland who cited Trainspotting as pivotal in a 2024 podcast dated January 10, 2024.
What are the most common questions about What Ewan Mcgregor Chose Next Unexpected Roles Revealed?
Did Ewan McGregor regret Star Wars?
No, McGregor expressed fondness for the role, stating in a June 2022 Vanity Fair interview, "Obi-Wan is part of me forever," despite initial fan backlash to the prequels' CGI-heavy style.
What was McGregor's biggest post-Star Wars hit?
Fargo Season 3 stands as his pinnacle, with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and his Golden Globe win, outpacing films like Doctor Sleep (2019), which grossed $132 million worldwide.
Has McGregor done more Star Wars?
Yes, beyond prequels, he led the 2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi series, filmed in 2021 at Leavesden Studios, and voiced in Tales of the Empire (2024), animated premiere May 4, 2024.
What's next for McGregor?
Upcoming: Die, My Love with Zendaya, shooting began March 2026 per Deadline on February 12, 2026; Blade reboot rumors persist since 2019 announcement.