Star Wars star Hayden Christensen shared his desire to return to the Star Wars universe, along with some behind-the-scenes stories from Obi-Wan Kenobi, during a panel appearance at Calgary Expo.
Agents of Fandom Editor-in-Chief TJ Zwarych was on the ground at Calgary Expo and attended the panel event on Saturday, April 29. There, Christensen answered questions about his role in Star Wars, how much he loves the franchise, and more!
Hayden Christensen shares behind-the-scenes details from Obi-Wan Kenobi
Despite the negativity surrounding the prequel trilogy from certain subsets of the Star Wars fandom, most fans were thrilled when Christensen reprised his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi—17 years after he appeared in Revenge of the Sith.
Thankfully, Christensen was welcomed back to the franchise with open arms, stating at the Expo: “I’ve found my tribe. I have my people. The amazing community of fans. It’s been so heartwarming.”
Christensen also discussed his distance from the Star Wars franchise before returning for Obi-Wan Kenobi:
“It’s always been a part of my life, and the past few years I’ve just been enjoying the series as a fan. Watching the series, rewatching the movies. When Deborah Chow called me to come back, it was a very quick yes and a very enthusiastic one.”
—Hayden Christensen at Calgary Expo 2023
He further revealed that some aspects of returning to play Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi were familiar, while some were “uncharted territory.”
“Getting to do the flashbacks with Ewan felt so easy and comfortable, just picking up where we left off. The end showdown was a different story, that was uncharted territory for me as Vader and I learned even more about the character.”
—Hayden Christensen at Calgary Expo 2023
Hayden Christensen would be open to returning to the Star Wars franchise again
Since Obi-Wan Kenobi, fans have wondered if he would again reprise his role as Anakin/Darth Vader. To their delight, Christensen further revealed at the Expo that he would be open to returning:
“I would love to get to do more. If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll be there.”
—Hayden Christensen at Calgary Expo 2023
This opens up the exciting possibility of where he could appear next. Perhaps he will appear in a flashback scene in the upcoming Disney+ series Ahsoka, given Anakin’s history with the character in Clone Wars and Rebels. If he does not appear in Ahsoka, however, there is a wealth of potential for where we could see him next, especially with all the new upcoming Star Wars projects in the pipeline.
A Star Wars fan at heart
“I like to play with lightsabers at home,” Christensen said, later sharing that lightsaber training was always his favorite part of playing Anakin Skywalker.
It is always endearing when actors in a franchise are also fans, and Christensen is no exception with Star Wars. During the panel, he shared his love for The Mandalorian and talked about “how cool the TIE fighters look in Andor.”
Hayden Christensen is a family man
Later during the panel, Christensen provided updates on what he is currently up to, which includes spending a lot of time with his family. His favorite pastime is farming—he owns a farm in Ontario, Canada. He enjoys mowing the lawn and taking care of the farm with his daughter.
Christensen also said that he brought his daughter to the set of Obi-Wan Kenobi while he was filming. He hoped she would think it would be really cool, but “she was only interested in the craft table and making sure daddy didn’t get hurt.”
His daughter is also a Star Wars fan herself. Her favorite character is Grogu, and she always beats Christensen in lightsaber fights at home.
Hayden Christensen’s passion for his role in Star Wars and his love for the franchise is evident, and his return would mark an exciting time for Star Wars fans.
What projects would you like to see Hayden Christensen appear in as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the future? Hit us up on the Agents of Fandom socials and let us know!
