One of the highlights from Star Wars Celebration was the announcement that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2 of Ahsoka. Following the revelation, we had the opportunity to sit down with Christensen to discuss his return to the iconic character after nearly two decades, his thoughts on darker Star Wars storytelling, and even his favorite Anakin memes.
We kicked off our conversation by asking Christensen which additional Anakin stories he’d like to explore on-screen. He expressed enthusiasm for revisiting the Clone Wars era, noting that most of Anakin’s animated appearances were voiced by Matt Lanter. “I know my friend Ewan [McGregor] would be up for that as well,” Christensen mentioned. “It’s such a fascinating period in Star Wars history, and I believe there are countless compelling tales to tell. Who knows? Maybe one day.”
Although bringing this vision to life would require some creative aging techniques, Christensen remains undeterred. “I adore this character,” he confessed. “I’d cherish the chance to delve deeper into Anakin’s journey and perhaps revisit the Darth Vader arc further. There are still untold stories waiting to be uncovered.”
The discussion then turned to Revenge of the Sith, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary on May 19, 2025. Christensen praised George Lucas for making bold narrative choices, particularly in addressing darker themes while maintaining audience accessibility. “George Lucas made some incredibly daring decisions, and I admire that,” Christensen stated. “Even in moments like Anakin slaughtering younglings, the film avoids explicit visuals, allowing viewers to process the impact subtly. I appreciate it when Star Wars ventures into the shadows—it resonates deeply with me.”
Christensen also reflected on his emotional connection to the character after such a long hiatus. “Returning to Anakin feels distinctly different now,” he admitted. “Twenty years have passed since my initial portrayal, and those experiences have reshaped my perspective entirely. Yet, strangely enough, I feel closer to Anakin than ever before because I’ve had ample time to reflect on his complexities and motivations.”
To conclude our talk, we touched upon the perennial debate surrounding the optimal viewing order of Star Wars films. Christensen shrugged off definitive answers, suggesting that both approaches hold value. “George Lucas intended viewers to embark on the saga chronologically via Episode I,” he explained. “However, commencing with Episode IV offers its own charm. Personally, I haven’t introduced my daughter to the films yet—I’m still deciding how best to share my cinematic legacy with her.”
Finally, we couldn’t resist asking Christensen about his stance on popular Anakin memes. While he finds humor in classics like the desert scene and the romantic Padmé moment, his current favorite is a clever twist involving Emperor Palpatine pleading with Anakin not to let Mace Windu kill him. In response, Anakin quips, “He’s simply deflecting your Force lightning back at you… just stop throwing bolts!”
