Hayden Christensen Discusses Anakin Skywalker's Return in Ahsoka and Embracing Dark 'Star Wars' at Celebration

One of the most exciting announcements from Star Wars Celebration is the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2 of *Ahsoka*. In a recent interview following this big reveal, Christensen shared his thoughts on reprising the role after nearly two decades, his appreciation for the darker aspects of Star Wars, and even his favorite Anakin meme.

When asked about potential future Anakin stories he'd like to explore, Christensen expressed a keen interest in delving deeper into the Clone Wars era. "I would love to get to do some more of the Clone Wars-era," he said. This period has primarily been covered in animated form, with Matt Lanter voicing Anakin, but Christensen believes there are compelling live-action stories to be told. He also mentioned that his friend Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi, would be enthusiastic about such a project. "It's a cool look. It's a cool sort of period in Star Wars and I think there are great stories that we could tell there. So who knows, maybe one day," Christensen added, acknowledging that some "aging magic" might be needed to make it work. Nonetheless, he remains eager to continue exploring Anakin's journey, including further delving into the Darth Vader timeline.

As *Revenge of the Sith* approaches its 20th anniversary on May 19, 2025, Christensen reflected on its place as one of the darker entries in the franchise. He praised George Lucas for making bold choices, particularly in handling heavy themes. "George Lucas made some very bold choices and I love that he did that," Christensen remarked. "However, he did it in a way that we could still digest everything. For example, Anakin is killing younglings, but we don't actually see it. But yeah, I like it when Star Wars goes dark. That works for me."

Returning to Anakin after almost 20 years felt different for Christensen, but he feels more connected to the character than ever. "I'm different," he said. "I've had 20 years of life that I didn't have before, and that just sort of changes your perspective on things. But in a lot of ways, I feel even more connected to Anakin now than I ever have because I've had more time to think about him and sort of try to understand him." He described the experience as a unique exercise in acting, accounting for the passage of time, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to revisit the role.

The conversation then turned to the ongoing debate about the optimal viewing order of the Star Wars films. Christensen doesn't have a strong opinion on this, stating, "I don't know that there is a right way or a wrong way, and I think there's merit to both. I think George Lucas would like you to start with episode one and experience the story in a linear fashion, but there's definitely something to be said for starting with episode four." He mentioned that he hasn't yet shown the films to his daughter but is considering how she'll react to seeing her father in such intense scenes.

Finally, Christensen discussed the numerous Anakin memes that have proliferated online. While he's seen the infamous "sand" meme countless times and enjoys the one featuring him and Padmé in a field, his current favorite is a meme about Emperor Palpatine and Mace Windu. In this meme, Palpatine begs Anakin to save him, and Anakin replies, "He's just reflecting your lightning back at you... just stop shooting lightning!"