How old were the main characters in the prequels?

I'm sure this subject has been broached before on the boards, but I was wondering how old Anakin, Padme and Obi Wan are in the respective prequel movies. I ask because I am trying to get a sense of the time line through the series. Example, if we assume Luke and Leia might appear in Ep 3 and Luke is around 20 in Ep 4, then there can't have been more than 20 years passed between Ep 3 and 4. I've been trying to reconcile the fact that Alec Guinness was 63 when Ep 4 came out.

 

TPM = 32 BBY
AOTC = 22 BBY
ROTS = 19 BBY
ANH = 0
ESB = 4.5 ABY
ROTJ = 5 ABY

Pretty sure that's right.

Qui-Gon is about 60 in TPM, Obi-Wan is 25, Anakin is 9, Padme is 14.

 

Qui-Gon 60!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's more like 40-45.

 

Forgive me, but what is ABY and BBY. I see that you are saying Ep 4 is 0, so I understand how your timeline is set up at least. Where are you getting your info on the intervals? Did Lucas mention some of this in the movie commentaries?

 

Sir Alec was 62 when they filmed ANH. Obi-Wan is supposed to be 57 at that point, once the prequels were in play. It's somewhat of a difference, but I think if you take into account that the guy's had a *somewhat* stressful life and has been living on a planet with two suns for 20 years, it seems completely reasonable.


-sj loves kevin spacey

 

BBY = Before Battle of Yavin.

 

Qui-Gon 60!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's more like 40-45.

Not according to the script.

BBY - Before Battle (of) Yavin
ABY - After Battle (of) Yavin

 

Very interesting. Thanks to all. SoloJones, are these numbers coming from the novelizations? Also, how old is Obi then in Ep 3?

 

If he's 25 in TPM, that makes him 38 in ROTS.

 

So where are these numbers coming from?

 

Official sources such as the OS, the script, scrapbooks, etc.

 

Anakin's age is stated in TPM. Qui Gon's age is hinted at, though not specified. Obi Wan, I'm not sure, but I did hear the number 25 bandied about somewhere (likely a reference guide).

Padme was 14. I can't remember where this was said, though it may have been the TPM novelization. If nothing else, it does state that she is quite young.

 

i always thought that ESB took place 3 years after ANH and then ROTJ was 1 year after that and thus 4 years ABY.

 

Hmm...

It could be 3.5 and 4 years after.

Actually, I think you're right on that one. I know the prequel dates are accurate though.

 

ESB takes place 3 years after ANH, I'm pretty positive about that.

 

TPM

Obi-Wan- 25 years old
Anakin- 9 years old
Padme- 14 years old

AOTC

Obi-Wan- 35 years old
Anakin- 19 years old
Padme- 24 years old

ROTS

Obi-Wan- 38 years old
Anakin- 22 years old
Padme- 27 years old

ANH

Obi-Wan- 57 years old
Anakin/Vader- 41 years old
Padme- dead

ESB

Obi-Wan- dead
Vader- 44 years old
Padme- very dead

ROTJ

Obi-Wan- not living
Vader- 45 years old
Padme- still dead...

 

The above ages are almost perfect, but the AotC novel says that Anakin had just turned 20 when the story begins. I know that some consider the novelizations to be EU, but since it doesn't contradict anything else to my knowledge, I think the age reference should be considered canon. So just add 1 year to Anakin's age in AotC and everything after and it's perfect.

 

Okay then, I'll repost it.

THE LIST WITH CORRECTIONS FROM neo-dragon

TPM

Obi-Wan- 25 years old
Anakin- 9 years old
Padme- 14 years old

AOTC

Obi-Wan- 35 years old
Anakin- 20 years old
Padme- 24 years old

ROTS

Obi-Wan- 38 years old
Anakin- 23 years old
Padme- 27 years old

ANH

Obi-Wan- 57 years old
Anakin/Vader- 42 years old
Padme- dead

ESB

Obi-Wan- dead
Vader- 45 years old
Padme- very dead

ROTJ

Obi-Wan- not living
Vader- 46 years old
Padme- still dead...

 

I could have sworn that Obi-Wan was 24 years old in TPM, not 25.

 

I find it very hard to believe that Qui-Gon was 60 in TPM. Is Liam Neeson even that old yet?

 

Nice work, Delta_62. That list is consistent with every official timeline I've seen.

As for Qui-gon being 60, I think the novelization said "nearly 60", but I haven't read it in a while, so I'm not sure. It's possible though. Some people look a lot younger than their actual age... and some people look a lot older.

 

And force users don't age as quickly as "normal" folk. Or, at least, it takes longer for it to wear on them.


I find it very hard to believe that Qui-Gon was 60 in TPM. Is Liam Neeson even that old yet?

He's currently 53, which I guess would put in him mid-forties when TPM came out.

 

Interesting dicussion! When I first saw TPM, I saw Qui-Gon and guessed his age to be 45-55, but nowhere near 60. Of course all those grey hairs may have mislead some folks to his age, so perhaps the question becomes: how did he get all those gray hairs?

Obi-Wan was 25 in TPM, I remember hearing someone say he is 16 years older than Anakin so that's accurate!