Hayden Christensen Discusses Anakin's Return in 'Ahsoka' and Dark 'Star Wars' Themes at Celebration

One of the highlights from Star Wars Celebration was undoubtedly the announcement that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2 of Ahsoka. Following the exciting reveal, we had the chance to sit down with Christensen to discuss his return to the iconic character after nearly two decades, his thoughts on darker storytelling in the Star Wars universe, and even his favorite Anakin memes.

We kicked off our discussion by asking Christensen about other Anakin-centric stories he’d like to explore further. He expressed a strong desire to delve deeper into the Clone Wars-era narrative, noting that most of Anakin’s appearances during this period have been animated, with Matt Lanter portraying the character. "I know my friend Ewan [McGregor] would be up for that as well," Christensen mentioned. "It’s such a fascinating time in the Star Wars saga, and I believe there are incredible untold stories waiting to be discovered."

While fans worldwide would surely adore seeing this happen, Christensen acknowledges that bringing this vision to life would require some creative "aging" techniques. Nonetheless, this hasn’t deterred him from expressing his passion for continuing Anakin’s journey—or delving into Darth Vader’s arc. "There are still more layers to uncover, and I’m eager to keep exploring these characters."

Our conversation naturally transitioned to Revenge of the Sith, which is set to mark its 20th anniversary in May 2025. Christensen praised George Lucas for taking bold creative risks, particularly through the darker themes present in the film. "George made some very daring decisions, and I admire how he balanced intensity with accessibility," Christensen explained. "Even scenes like Anakin’s confrontation with the younglings were handled subtly yet powerfully."

Christensen also reflected on how his personal growth over the past 20 years deepened his connection to the character. "The longer I’ve been away from Anakin, the more I’ve come to understand him," he admitted. "Returning to the role felt both familiar and entirely new—it’s an intriguing challenge to reconcile my current self with the person I was back then."

When asked about the ongoing debate regarding the optimal viewing order for Star Wars films, Christensen offered a balanced perspective. "There’s no right or wrong approach," he stated. "Starting chronologically aligns with George Lucas’s vision, while beginning with Episode IV offers an immediate hook for newcomers. Personally, I haven’t decided how to introduce my daughter to the saga yet—I suppose she’ll see me doing some pretty wild stuff!"

Finally, we couldn’t resist asking Christensen about his take on the countless Anakin memes floating around online. Although he finds humor in classics like the sand-related joke, his current favorite involves Emperor Palpatine pleading with Anakin not to let Mace Windu strike him down, only for Anakin to quip, "He’s just reflecting your lightning back at you… just stop shooting lightning!"