What a Dream That Would’ve Been

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Shooter star Ryan Phillippe talks losing out on a major role to Hayden Christensen.

At 29 years old, having been born in the ’70s, Philippe admitted he was disappointed when he missed out on playing Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones because he was deemed too old for the role. However, he believes that everything happens for a reason, and it’s not difficult to find peace with that decision.

As actors, we need to cultivate a resilient mindset, which includes accepting rejection or situations where things don’t go as planned in a project or potential job,” Philippa mentioned. “This involves learning to let go and move on, rather than dwelling too much on such instances.” Despite not being part of the Star Wars franchise, Philippa has managed to build a successful career in Hollywood. His notable roles include films like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Crash, as well as leading the USA Network’s Shooter series for 31 episodes across three seasons from 2016 until its conclusion in 2018.

Hayden Christensen Is Still Playing Anakin Skywalker

Back in 2002, I stepped into the iconic role of Anakin Skywalker for “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” a moment that undeniably etched my name in the annals of popular culture. Five years later, I revisited the character for “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” wrapping up Anakin’s transformative journey and paving the way for the emergence of Darth Vader within the Star Wars saga. Fast forward to 2019, I lent my voice to bring Anakin back to life in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Hayden Christensen’s fame from the Star Wars series has continued to escalate over the years, with him reprising his character as Anakin/Darth Vader in two more franchise appearances: 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and 2023’s Ahsoka. In April, Christensen hinted at further involvement in Star Wars when he told fans that they hadn’t seen the last of him yet. During a panel at the 2025 Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, he mentioned plans for Anakin to return in Season 2, though specific details remain under wraps.

In his own words, the creator Dave Filoni commented on the broader narrative of the series, focusing particularly on Anakin’s story. He explained, “George Lucas was the one who told Anakin’s tale, and it doesn’t require any additions from me. I have no need to clarify anything about it. George did exactly what he intended, and it’s flawless. The tale I’m spinning revolves around Ahsoka.” Filoni added that Anakin’s presence in the story is justified because he plays a role in her narrative. He also mentioned that he takes great care when working to avoid altering or adjusting anything that George Lucas created.

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2025-05-13 03:06