The franchise favorite calls getting to play a live-action “Clone Wars” Anakin “a gift.”
The Haydenssance is in full effect.
But Christensen’s return still seemed a longshot.
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker on ‘Ahsoka’.Lucasfilm Ltd.
For one thing, his character was, like, super dead.
For another, Christensen seemed happiest spending time on his Canadian farm, as opposed to on a set.
And who could blame him after all the slings and arrows the prequel films took from critics.
Hayden Christensen and Ariana Greenblatt on ‘Ahsoka’.Lucasfilm
HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN:No, I did not.
I had heard about theAhsokaproject, but there was no mention of my involvement when we were doing theObi-Wanshow.
What was your reaction to that call when they explained what they wanted you to do?
I mean, any opportunity to get to do more with this character is thoroughly exciting for me.
And to get to work withDave Filoniand follow his lead was just a real privilege.
So what is your take on the Anakin we see here in the World Between Worlds?
I really just wanted to bring to life what was on the page.
What Dave wrote was just so exciting.
I was getting to play a version of this character that I hadn’t done before.
It’s an understanding of everything that he’s been through.
And then when we go back to the Clone Wars flashback, that was just awesome.
That was a version of the character that I was aware of when we were doing the prequels.
I wish we could see a little bit of that.
And we do a little bit.
Yeah, there’s definitely something sort of meta going on there.
So there’s a little bit of freedom there.
But it’s very well described in the animated work that Dave did with Matt Lanter.
So probably through some version of osmosis or something, I took some of that.
But it was an interesting exercise in my craft.
Lucasfilm
It’s also the first time we’ve seen you play Anakin as a Master.
I loved getting to do that.
So it was important for us to get that across too.
But Rosario and I go back.
And then with Ariana too, when we were doing the stuff with young Ahsoka she was phenomenal.
They couldn’t have cast the role better.
So it was all set up for us to win.
That was a great feeling, and I just loved how Dave conceived it and guided us through it.
And the end result, I was very happy with.
I really loved how it came out.
Everyone always talks about your lightsaber prowess.
I mean, any chance I get to swing a lightsaber is an awesome opportunity.
I was like, Oh, I’m going to get to do all this awesome action!
And I couldn’t sit down.
You spend a decent amount of time with your scene partner and learning the fights.
So it’s all really helpful.
Listen to the full conversation with Hayden Christensen onEW’sDagobah Dispatchpodcast.
