What started out as an April Fools Day joke has resulted in more than 20,000 signatures to a petition calling for the installation of a bronze statue of Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi at the top of Ben Nevis.
Supporters are demanding Perthshire-based conservation charity John Muir Trust consider a life-size sculpture of the Crieff-born actor as his Star Wars character Obi Wan Kenobi.
Connor Heggie, who set up the campaign, said it would help Scotland’s crisis-hit tourist economy by encouraging an influx of science fiction fans to the mountain.
The petition uses one of McGregor’s most famous lines in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, when his character tells former pupil and soon-to-be Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker: “I have the higher ground”.
Mr Heggie, from Newcastle, said he wanted to honour the “phenomenal” actor.
“Regardless of what people think of the prequel trilogy, most people will say that Obi Wan was done brilliantly. He made Obi Wan the popular character he is today.
“And I think he deserves something for it.”
He said a statue of Obi Wan Kenobi would be particularly fitting on a mountain known as Ben. “He would literally have the high ground, watching over all of Scotland. It’s poetic in a way.”
You can sign the petition here.
