Whether you want him to or not, Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker (a.k.a. Darth Vader) in the Disney+ series Ahsoka. What that entails is still unclear.
The Hollywood Reporter says that this new series, like The Mandalorian, is set five years after Return of the Jedi. Considering that Darth Vader dies at the end of that film, it is very unclear what Christensen’s return will look like
The new series will focus on Ahsoka Tano, who will be played by Rosario Dawson. Ahsoka was Anakin Skywalker’s padawan in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The site Deadline is guessing that Christensen’s reprisal of Anakin Skywalker could take its form in a flashback or with Anakin as a Jedi presence (or ghost). Christensen has been featured as a Jedi presence before in George Lucas’ controversial re-edit at the end of Return of the Jedi.
Christensen first took on the role of Anakin Skywalker in 2002 in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. He played the role again in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Star Wars prequel trilogy has famously gotten a lot of hate, and Christensen’s performance was particularly panned. However, some have expressed a new appreciation for the prequel films in recent years, so perhaps they will be ready to give Christensen a second chance.
Interestingly, there was speculation in 2019 that Christensen could return as Anakin Skywalker in a future series when Disney canceled a panel Christensen was appearing at. Some speculated that Disney rapidly canceled the event to prevent this news from being spoiled. Christensen is also appearing in the upcoming series Obi-Wan Kenobi, although he is specifically set to appear as Darth Vader. Plot details are still uncertain, so we may see him outside of the black suit in this series. We won’t know much until Obi-Wan Kenobi is released in 2022, the same year Ahsoka will begin production.
Star Wars fans, it’s time for you to weigh in. Are you looking forward to seeing Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the Ahsoka series? Or would you prefer to forget those films entirely? Or, do you think the prequels and Christensen are underrated? Talk to us in the comments!
