Hayden Christensen has spoken up about his return as Anakin Skywalker/young Darth Vader in the Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
The actor said that it feels good to be back in the Star Wars universe, adding that he’s excited to work alongside Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) again.
Christensen and McGregor were co-stars in Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). McGregor’s character served as a Jedi mentor to Christensen’s padawan, who turned out to be the biggest villain of the franchise.
“It was such an incredible journey playing Anakin Skywalker,” the actor said. “Of course, Anakin and Obi-Wan weren’t on the greatest of terms when we last saw them…it will be interesting to see what an amazing director like Deborah Chow has in store for us all.”
“The Rematch of the Century”
Lucasfilm top executive Kathleen Kennedy confirmed Christensen’s addition to the Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi series at the Disney’s Investors event on Dec. 10. Kennedy described the reunion as “the rematch of the century.”
McGregor also said that the best thing about doing this TV show is his reunion with his co-star. Like Christensen, the actor is also eager to work and take “another swing at each other.”
Director Deborah Chow confirmed that there would indeed be a rematch between the master and the padawan. She said that the story of Obi-Wan could not be told if it doesn’t include Darth Vader.
No helmet for Darth Vader?
Fans last saw Christensen in Revenge of the Sith in his Darth Vader armor as he lost to Obi-Wan. Sources, however, said that the actor would not be wearing the iconic Darth Vader helmet in some parts of the series.
But the movie showed Darth Vader’s extremely disfigured face due to the burn scars after his last fight with Obi-Wan, thus necessitating the helmet. As Star Wars fans learned in the other films and in the novels, the helmet is an essential tool to the villain’s survival. It remains to be seen how Chow will present Vader without a helmet reportedly for celebrity recognition.
Some Star Wars fans expressed caution about this rematch as well, citing that it might mess up what Obi-Wan and Darth Vader said to each other in their first meeting in Episode IV – A New Hope (1977). This series is set within the 10 years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
Production for the Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi show will kick off in March 2021 with a 2022 potential release. Lucasfilm hasn’t given the official title yet.
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