Hayden Christensen Is Coming Back To Star Wars And We Can’t Wait
Sweep up all of that rough, coarse sand; Hayden Christensen is coming back to the galaxy far far away and we can’t be more excited for his return.
Not too long ago the cast of upcoming the Kenobi-centric Disney+ series was released and we at BoLS were equal parts surprised and elated to see a certain sand-hating former Jedi included in the lineup. It’s no secret that the prequels soured at least a few acting careers and relationships with the Star Wars franchise, and while Hayden has been a special guest at least a few Star Wars Celebrations and maintained a very steady career including a voice cameo in Rise of Skywalker, I can’t say any of us would have blamed him for politely telling Disney “no.” Will we get more Anakin? Will he appear exclusively in the Vader suit? We don’t know yet, but we do know we’re looking forward to seeing him, and here’s why.
He’s A Delight
I’ve never personally had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Christensen at a convention, but everyone who has seems to exclusively agree, he’s very nice. Somewhere around being asked to sign the thousandth jar of sand, many of us probably would have snapped, but he reportedly always greets fans with enthusiasm and kindness. It’s a small thing, and sure, it’s “part of the job,” but I’m always happy to see more of somebody who seems genuinely nice.
He’s An Good Actor
The prequels were full of talented and experienced actors and did none of them any favors (how does somebody make Natalie Portman seem like a soap opera actress!?), Hayden included. Acting since he was twelve, he’s been nominated for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and sure, a Razzie or two, but at the end of the day he’s an experienced actor with a lot more to offer the Star Wars universe.
He’s Iconic
It’s hard not to picture Hayden’s portrayal when you think of Anakin. The character’s look, mannerisms, and voice are all Hayden to their core. To the point that a recent re-watch of Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars had me commenting on how that voice just wasn’t right. There was nothing wrong with that particular voice actor, it just wasn’t the Hayden voice. If he stays in the Vader suit the entire time, it may be hard to tell through the labored movements and the robotic voice, but if we get even a moment of Anakin flashback screen time, it would be almost impossible to have anyone but Hayden appear and not immediately pull the audience out of the show.
His Chemistry with Ewan McGregor Can’t Be Beat
This also hinges on the hope that we’ll see Anakin and not just his Sith Lord alter ego, but the dynamic that Christensen and McGregor brought to the prequel movies that was a highlight of the trilogy. Yes, the main relationship was supposed to be Anakin and Padme, but the brotherhood and eventually betrayal of the two Jedi was the emotional (and often comical) core of the movies and I want to see what the two of them can get up to this time around.
Are you excited about the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series? Which of the announced cased members are you most excited to see a return to or join the Star Wars family? Have the prequels grown on you since the early two-thousands? Let us know in the comments!
May The Force Be With You, Adventurers!
