Star Warsactor Hayden Christensen is clearly excited for his long-awaited return to a galaxy far, far away, with the actor promoting the upcoming Disney+ event series,Obi-Wan Kenobi, at a recent convention. Happily posing for photographs and signing autographs forStar Warsfans, Christensen sported a stunt crew cap fromStar Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, in which the actor is due to reprise the role of Anakin Skywalker.
Introduced as the Skywalker patriarch in 2002’sStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Christensen’s relationship with both the franchise and the fans has been a turbulent one, with the actor having been on the receiving end of some of the vitriol displayed by the more toxic side of the fanbase in the past. The announcement of his return in theObi-Wan Kenobiseries however has been met with much applause, withStar Warsfans excited to seeHayden Christensenreturn, and wondering how Anakin/Darth Vader will fit into proceedings.
While details of his role have not yet been revealed, it is likely thatDarth Vaderwill be busy hunting down his former mentor and friend along with any other Jedi survivors. Rumors have continued to circulate that, considering the time period of the show, a young Luke Skywalker will also be involved in some capacity. Ewan McGregor, who will reprise the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi for the event series, was recently asked about this idea, to which the actor played coy saying, “That’s very possible. I don’t know.” McGregor himself has even teased another clash of lightsabers between the pair, with the actor saying that they will have “another swing at each other” during the events ofObi-Wan Kenobi.
Several concept art images recently surfaced, showing Darth Vader without his iconic mask andfloating in a bacta tank, which could be how Christensen is able to appear in the series. It has also been widely speculated that the actor will appear in flashback sequences, and really both possibilities could turn out to be true. In any case, it is great to see Hayden Christensen as excited for his return as the fans seem to be.
Some official details have since been revealed regarding the direction ofObi-Wan Kenobi, revealing that theStar Warsshow will pick up with the beloved character around ten years after the ending of 2005’sStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Along with introducing audiences to an older, exiled version of McGregor’s Obi-Wan, who is now on Tatooine and watching over a young Luke Skywalker, the series will also continue one of the biggest rivalries inStar Warslore, Obi-Wan versus Darth Vader, an event which Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy has described as “the rematch of the century.”
Alongside Christensen and McGregor,Obi-Wan Kenobialso sees the return of Joel Edgerton as Owen Lars, a moisture farmer on Tatooine and the uncle of Luke Skywalker and Bonnie Piesse as Beru Whitesun Lars, Owen’s wife. Additionally, Moses Ingram, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell, Benny Safdie, and Maya Erskine have been cast in undisclosed roles.
Obi-Wan Kenobiis scheduled to be released in 2022, and will consist of six episodes, all of which have been written by Joby Harold and directed byThe Mandalorian’s Deborah Chow. This comes to us courtesy ofFlorida Supercon.
