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Hayden Christensen’s return as Anakin Skywalker is nothing short of a blessing

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Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker is nothing short of a blessing

As someone who spent countless hours debating the fate of Ahsoka and Anakin with fellow Star Wars fans online since I was just a kid, it feels surreal to finally witness Hayden Christensen’s return to the Star Wars universe. It’s as if the force has finally brought us full circle, from the dark days of prequel-era toxicity to the bright light of live-action Ahsoka and the long-awaited reunion we never thought possible.

In the recent past, videos on YouTube depicting moments from both The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels series sparked numerous discussions among Star Wars enthusiasts, expressing their desire for a resolution to Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker’s heartbreaking relationship that seemed unlikely.

Back then, it appeared more like an unattainable wish rather than a real possibility. Fans often appended a skeptical “I doubt it will ever come true” to their remarks, expressing hope that Hayden Christensen might reprise his role as the spirit of Anakin Skywalker, reuniting with live-action Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars. The character of Ahsoka has made significant strides, transitioning from animation to live-action and now leading her own hit series, which has already been renewed for a second season.

Having been about the same age as Jake Lloyd when “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” came out, I experienced the distress of encountering harsh fan comments online. For almost two decades, I nurtured a secret hope for Hayden Christensen’s reprisal in Star Wars. His return in “Obi-Wan Kenobi” was like a dream come true, but it felt unfulfilled. There was immense potential, yet the writers made some puzzling decisions and limited Christensen’s appearances as both Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. Despite this, once he fell to the dark side, Anakin’s return in any form other than Vader had always seemed unlikely.

Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker is nothing short of a blessing

After the portrayal of Anakin in ‘Ahsoka’, it doesn’t seem as exciting for Hayden to reprise his role from ‘Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’. In ‘The Clone Wars’, Hayden had an opportunity to play a version of Anakin that fans imagined while watching, which many felt was beyond what Christensen could portray. The 2000s were marked by a lot of harsh criticism and negativity, so many in the fandom considered Christensen’s performance as Anakin Skywalker poor. I had concerns this might dissuade Lucasfilm from considering him for a return. Sometimes, watching the differences between the Anakin from ‘The Clone Wars’ and the live-action one made me doubt whether Hayden would be able to pull it off if he got another chance.

No matter what, upon his return as Anakin, Christensen demonstrated his deep affection for the character and its significance within Star Wars. He left fans in awe with minimal screen time in “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” but his performance in “Ahsoka” was truly exceptional.

Ahsoka Tano presented Hayden Christensen with an opportunity to reinterpret his character in a fresh perspective, one that resonated with many fans due to Matt Lanter’s powerful voice acting in ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ and ‘Star Wars Rebels’. Lanter’s portrayal infused Anakin with a unique boldness and strength, aspects that some viewers felt were missing from his live-action representation.

The task for Hayden Christensen was to craft a consistent portrayal of Anakin Skywalker, making it appear as if the same actor had played him throughout all stages of his life – from his youthful days as a Jedi to his later years as a battle-hardened warrior. He couldn’t mimic the style of Jayme Lo Beh, despite admitting to watching The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels prior to filming Obi-Wan Kenobi. Instead, he skillfully combined elements to convincingly portray Anakin Skywalker as a man fully conscious of his past deeds. He embodies the same individual who was defeated by Obi-Wan on Mustafar, yet there’s an underlying sense of tranquility and wisdom beyond his apparent age. Having faced the depths of darkness and returned, he effortlessly transitions between light and dark sides. It is through this performance that Hayden Christensen demonstrates Anakin Skywalker as his character in its entirety.

Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker is nothing short of a blessing

The version of Anakin we never thought we’d see, one who mastered his anger and found inner peace on demand, surpassed our childhood dreams of Hayden Christensen portraying General Anakin Skywalker in Clone Wars attire. His role in Ahsoka is a dream realized, and I am thankful to Christensen for honoring Anakin’s history across live-action and animation. This respect shines through in his authentic, effortless performance that feels unscripted. He has always embodied Anakin, regardless of the iteration. Should he reappear in Ahsoka Season 2, he will have the opportunity to pen the concluding chapter of Anakin’s legacy in his unique way because no one can predict the actions of the redeemed Anakin Skywalker.

It doesn’t matter if he returns to Ahsoka Season 2; I will always be eternally grateful to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka for managing to bring Hayden Christensen back, a dream I’ve held for a long time, and demonstrating that sometimes, even our most treasured desires can come true.

Ahsoka is streaming on Disney+.

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2024-09-07 00:52

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