After two decades of globe-trotting on motorcycles with Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor isn’t just back on the saddle — he’s back to what he loves most: storytelling without a script. Long Way Home, the latest installment of their iconic adventure series, isn’t about breaking speed records or chasing logistics. It’s about friendship, freedom, and a slow ride through Europe’s vintage heart.
"Long Way Home" brings McGregor and Boorman back to the basics of adventure
Apple TV+’s Long Way Home completes the quartet of McGregor and Boorman’s motorbike odysseys. After Long Way Round (2004), Long Way Down (2007), and Long Way Up (2020), the two are no longer pushing the edge of youth or technology. Instead, they’re embracing age and nostalgia. This time, they’re not racing on electric Harleys through the Americas. They’re cruising on 1970s vintage bikes across 17 European countries — from McGregor’s Scottish Highlands to the Arctic Circle and back.
“We just wanted to have fun,” McGregor said. And that desire shines through every rust creak and kick start in Long Way Home. There’s no rush. No massive logistics team. Just three old guys on mechanical bikes that can be fixed with a wrench — not a firmware update.
McGregor’s appeal lies in being himself, not playing a role
Known globally for roles like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Renton in Trainspotting, McGregor has spent years inhabiting characters. But in this series, he’s simply Ewan. And that’s enough. “I don’t have the pressure of playing somebody,” he said. “It’s just me.”
That authenticity is what separates Long Way Home from most celebrity projects. There's no gimmick. McGregor and Boorman aren’t selling personas. They’re old friends enjoying the road — and occasionally fumbling with old gear just for the fun of it.
Their friendship is the real fuel behind every mile traveled
More than 7,600 miles and 20 years of adventures have forged a bond between McGregor and Boorman that neither time nor trauma could break. “I don’t have a relationship with anyone else like I do with Charley,” McGregor said. It's a connection built not just on shared experiences, but on trust, reliance, and countless conversations with helmets on.
Boorman described it as a “marriage type thing.” After four series and countless crashes (including McGregor’s only fall this time), they've become inseparable partners on the road — and in life.
Vintage bikes, wild detours, and the joy of unscripted exploration
One of the most striking choices in Long Way Home is the return to old motorcycles. After experimenting with high-tech electric bikes in Long Way Up, the duo went backward — and McGregor called it forward. “The only way to go this time was back,” he said.
Riding a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, McGregor embraces the mechanical simplicity of the journey. No chips. No crashes that can’t be fixed with duct tape and goodwill. Boorman added that breakdowns often led to one of the best parts of the trip: meeting strangers with small workshops and big hearts.
It’s adventure as it used to be — and as it should be.
Polar bears, pelting rain, and a trip that’s more about the soul than the speed
The route may have been closer to home, but the sights were anything but familiar. McGregor called Svalbard “the most incredible place in terms of its remoteness.” The team flew to the Arctic island for a mini adventure that felt like a world away from the vintage bike loop through Europe.
They didn’t rush. They didn’t need to. A scene that some viewers might find meandering — like searching for a lost toddler’s phone — is emblematic of the show’s new rhythm. It’s no longer about proving something. It’s about enjoying the journey.
After 20 years and multiple near-misses, the desire to explore remains unbroken
Boorman’s injuries have forced him to be more cautious. McGregor says he rides carefully now, especially given his age. But the spirit is the same. Even after crashing once this time, McGregor joked about the embarrassment of it. The risks haven’t vanished, but neither has the passion.
When asked if they have plans for more trips, McGregor simply said, “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
Ewan McGregor proves once again that real adventure needs no script
Whether he’s fighting Sith Lords or freezing in the Arctic, McGregor’s presence commands attention. But it’s in moments like these — riding a rusting bike through rain-soaked Europe with an old friend — that he truly stands out. Not as an actor, but as a storyteller.
Long Way Home isn’t just another motorcycle series. It’s a quiet celebration of aging, friendship, and the freedom to keep exploring, no matter what role the world thinks you should be playing next.