Ahsoka: director reveals that Hayden Christensen loved returning as Anakin Skywalker and is very happy

Ahsoka’s most recent episode – 77% has captivated fans, especially with the reappearance of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker and the introduction of the mysterious “World Between Worlds.” In the episode “Fallen Jedi,” Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) suffers a dramatic turn when she is pushed off a cliff, only to find herself in this enigmatic space where time and space intersect. There, she has an emotional reunion with her former teacher, Anakin, in a version of him before he became Darth Vader.

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Director Peter Ramsey expressed how meaningful it was for Christensen to return to the franchise, especially after his role as Darth Vader in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series – 95%, released in 2022, and the warm reception it received at the Star Wars Celebration in London. The series also delves into the complex relationship between Ahsoka and Anakin, which dates back to their apprenticeship in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and culminates in an epic showdown in the Star Wars Rebels series. However, Ahsoka’s Anakin is a character not yet corrupted by the Dark Side, which adds a layer of complexity and emotion to the reunion. Ramsey commented to IGN (via Collider):

He is a very sweet and discreet guy. He was very happy to be there after all this time. It had a lot of meaning to him.

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Christensen played the role of Anakin Skywalker in two of the Star Wars prequels, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – 66% (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – 79% (2005). In these films, the actor portrays Anakin’s transition from a handsome and talented Jedi to Darth Vader, the franchise’s iconic villain. His performance was one of the most anticipated and scrutinized, given that he had the task of embodying one of the most complex and fundamental characters in the saga.

Fan reception to Christensen’s role was mixed. On the one hand, he received praise for his ability to show the emotional complexity of the character, especially in Revenge of the Sith, where Anakin completes his tragic transition to the Dark Side. However, he also faced criticism for what some considered stiff or even poor acting in certain scenes, especially in episode II. Many critics and fans debate the extent to which Christensen’s performance was affected by George Lucas’ script and direction, which also received mixed reviews.

Over time, perceptions of the actor have improved, especially as the prequel trilogy has been re-evaluated by a new generation of Star Wars fans. Additionally, there is a growing recognition of the difficulty of portraying such a complex and crucial character in such a beloved franchise. His return to the Star Wars universe in more recent projects has been generally well received, confirming the claim for the actor.

What is the future of Star Wars at Disney?

Disney has had a mixed record since acquiring Lucasfilm and, with it, the rights to the Star Wars franchise in 2012. The sequel trilogy (Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 92%, Star Wars: The Last Jedi – 91% and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – 61%) were blockbusters but polarized the fan base and received mixed reviews. While Episode VII was broadly welcomed for revitalizing the franchise, The Last Jedi divided opinion due to its narrative and character choices. The Rise of Skywalker attempted to correct some of those problems, but ended up being criticized for its rushed plot and lack of coherence.

On the TV series front, The Mandalorian – 80% has been a great success both critically and publicly, but The Book of Boba Fett – 63% and Obi-Wan Kenobi were not unanimously acclaimed, and Andor – 90%, despite the positive comments it received, was a ratings failure.

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