Hayden Christensen Returns as Anakin Skywalker in 'Ahsoka,' Embraces Dark 'Star Wars' - Celebration

One of the most exciting announcements from Star Wars Celebration is that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2 of Ahsoka. Following this big reveal, we had the opportunity to sit down with Christensen to discuss his return to the iconic character after nearly two decades, his thoughts on the darker aspects of Star Wars, and even his favorite Anakin meme.

We kicked off our conversation by asking Christensen about other Anakin stories he'd like to explore on screen. He expressed a strong interest in delving deeper into the Clone Wars era, a period largely covered in animation by Matt Lanter. "I would love to get to do some more of the Clone Wars-era," Christensen shared. This sentiment is echoed by his friend Ewan McGregor, who he believes would also be keen on revisiting that time. "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 it might require some "aging magic" but expressing his enthusiasm for continuing to explore Anakin's journey, including more of the Darth Vader timeline.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith on May 19, 2025, we discussed the film's darker themes. Christensen praised George Lucas for his bold storytelling choices. "George Lucas made some very bold choices and I love that he did that," he said, noting how Lucas balanced intense scenes, like Anakin's attack on the younglings, with careful presentation. "I like it when Star Wars goes dark. That works for me," Christensen affirmed.

Reflecting on his return to the role after almost 20 years, Christensen shared how his perspective has evolved. "Of course it feels different. I'm different," he explained. "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, feeling fortunate to have the chance to revisit Anakin.

We also touched on the ongoing debate about the best order to watch the Star Wars films. Christensen offered a balanced view, saying, "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 considering how to introduce the films to his daughter, humorously noting she'd see him in some intense scenes.

Finally, we couldn't resist asking about Anakin memes. While Christensen is familiar with classics like the "sand" meme and the scene with Padmé in the field, his current favorite is a humorous take on Emperor Palpatine's confrontation with Mace Windu. In the meme, Palpatine begs Anakin to intervene, and Anakin responds, "He's just reflecting your lightning back at you... just stop shooting lightning!"