Actor Hayden Christensen will officially be reprising the role of Anakin Skywalker in the upcoming Disney Plus series Star Wars: Ahsoka. This will be the second Disney Plus Star Wars series to feature Christensen in the role, as the actor will also be playing the character in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series alongside his prequel co-star Ewan McGregor.
Star Wars: Ahsoka will follow fan-favorite character Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) as she searches the galaxy for her friend and fellow Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger and Imperial baddie Grand Admiral Thrawn. The series is a spin-off of The Mandalorian, which featured Dawson's debut in the role. Ahsoka Tano was the one-time Padawan learner of Anakin Skywalker, but she left the order after she was falsely accused and put on trial. The character first appeared in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and again in Star Wars: Rebels, where she faced down her former master after he had turned to the dark side and become Darth Vader.
Christensen first played Anakin Skywalker in the second chapter of George Lucas' prequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. The young actor returned for the third film, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, where he portrayed the young Jedi Knight as he turned to the dark side. Upon release, many fans were critical of Christensen's performance and he often took the brunt of some of the harshest reviews, along with fellow prequel actors Jake Lloyd and Ahmed Best. However, in the years since many fans have found a new appreciation for Lucas' controversial prequel trilogy, as well as Christensen's performance as the tormented Jedi. The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news of Christensen's return for Star Wars: Ahsoka.
It's unclear at the moment how Anakin will return in the Ahsoka series, as the character was killed at the end of the original trilogy. Like The Mandalorian, the Ahsoka series takes place roughly five years after Return of The Jedi, so it seems likely that the character will return as a Force ghost, similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. This would be fitting, as Obi-Wan provided Anakin's son Luke Skywalker with wisdom and guidance, even from beyond the grave, and now Anakin can do the same with his former padawan. Perhaps the character can find further redemption for the wrongs he committed as Darth Vader, and help an old friend find their way.
Christensen is also confirmed to be appearing in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, which takes place between the prequels and the original trilogy, meaning that he will be portraying Darth Vader rather than Anakin Skywalker. Christensen definitely has his work cut out for him, as he will be playing two very different versions of the same character for two different shows. Ahsoka is also the first time the Anakin and Tano will be featured together in live-action.
Either way, fans should be excited, as Christensen absolutely deserves another chance to play the character that made him a household name. Perhaps more will be revealed soon during Disney Plus Day on November 12th.
Star Wars: Ahsoka doesn't have an official release date yet, but the series is set to start production in 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter