Hayden Christensen’s return asAnakin Skywalker/Darth VaderinObi-Wan Kenobiwas brilliant, but this video confirmsChristensen wanted to return toStar Wars14 years earlier. Anakin/Darth Vader is one ofStar Wars’best charactersand among the most important characters inStar Warsmovies and TV shows, even after the Skywalker Saga theoretically ended withStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. One of the most important additions toAnakin’sStar WarstimelinewasStar Wars: The Clone Wars, yet Christensen did not voice Anakin in the show.
This 2008 red carpet interview with Hayden Christensen, posted onReddit, confirms thatChristensen would have wanted to voice Anakin Skywalker inThe Clone Wars, but he"never got the call.“Ultimately, Matt Lanter voiced Anakin inThe Clone Wars—and he did a brilliant job—but it is somewhat surprising to hear Christensen wasn’t tapped by George Lucas and Dave Filoni for the show.
It’s clear that Christensen was very interested in the role, so the question remains:why wasn’t Hayden Christensen considered for the voice of Anakin Skywalker inThe Clone Wars?
Why Didn’t George Lucas Bring Christensen Back Before?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Wasn’t An Exact Fit For The Prequels
Although Hayden Christensen has only become increasingly beloved as the actor of Anakin Skywalker since the prequel trilogy, there are some reasons why Filoni and Lucas may have made this choice (none of which have to do with Christensen’s acting chops). Arguably the biggest reason is the nature ofThe Clone Wars.The Clone Warswasn’t intended to be an exact match for the prequel trilogy, which is clear both in the voice actors and even in the character designs. It would have been particularly odd if Christensen had returned but other prequel trilogy actors didn’t.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Voice Cast - What The Actors Look Like In Real Life
Star Wars: The Clone Wars features an all-star live-action cast, bringing iconic characters like Anakin Skywalker and Palpatine to life.
There’s also the simple question of expense. While some of the prequel trilogy actors, Christensen among them, weren’t exactly major stars beforeStar Wars, that had certainly changed by the end ofStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Given the number of episodes inThe Clone Wars, even if they didn’t know what that number would be at the time,this could have demanded quite the budget, which the show likely didn’t have.
Thankfully, Everything Has Worked Out For Christensen & Star Wars Now
The Wait And Christensen’s Return Ended Up Being Perfect
Even with the brilliant job Matt Lanter did and in light of some of the logic likely behindStar Wars’choice, it would have been brilliant to have Christensen back in the role of Anakin Skywalker again so soon afterRevenge of the Sith. In the end, though,this only made Hayden Christensen’s return as Anakin Skywalker so much better. A full 15 years afterRevenge of the Sith, both Christensen and Ewan McGregor returned to theStar Warsscreen inObi-Wan Kenobi.
There was massive fanfare around this return, for good reason. Getting to see these prequel trilogy heroes together again after so long was incredible, and the emotional impact was so much more profound because this was each actor’s return to theStar Warsscreen—together. Although it’s clear Hayden Christensen was more than game for a return asAnakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, it was well worth the wait to see him again inObi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Cast
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Set during the reign of the Galactic Empire, the narrative follows former Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi as he undertakes a pivotal mission to reconcile with former allies turned adversaries while confronting the formidable forces of the Empire.
