Hayden Christensen on Anakin's Return in 'Ahsoka'

One of the biggest revelations from Star Wars Celebration was Hayden Christensen's confirmed return as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2. Following this exciting announcement, we sat down with Christensen to discuss reprising his iconic role after nearly two decades, his appreciation for Star Wars' darker themes, and even his favorite Anakin meme.

Our conversation opened with Christensen sharing his enthusiasm about exploring more Clone Wars-era Anakin stories. "I'd absolutely love to revisit that era," he told us. While we've seen glimpses in Ahsoka and the films, most Clone Wars-era Anakin appearances have featured Matt Lanter's animated portrayal.

"Ewan [McGregor] would be totally on board too," Christensen added with a smile. "It's such a visually striking period in Star Wars lore with incredible storytelling potential. You never know what the future might hold."

The actor acknowledged that returning to younger versions of these characters would require some cinematic aging reversal techniques, but that doesn't dampen his enthusiasm. "I have such deep affection for this character," Christensen reflected. "I'd relish any opportunity to further explore Anakin's journey - including his transformation into Darth Vader."

As we approach Revenge of the Sith's 20th anniversary next May, Christensen praised George Lucas's bold storytelling choices. "George wasn't afraid to tackle dark themes while maintaining accessibility," he observed. "Take the younglings moment - we understand what happens without seeing it explicitly. That tonal balance is part of what makes Star Wars so powerful."

Returning to the role after twenty years has given Christensen fresh perspective. "Of course I've changed profoundly as a person," he mused. "Ironically, that distance has allowed me to connect with Anakin more deeply than ever before. It's fascinating how time reshapes your understanding of a character."

When discussing viewing orders for newcomers, Christensen remained diplomatic. "There's no single correct approach," he said. "While George envisioned watching chronologically, starting with A New Hope has its merits too. I'm still deciding how to introduce my daughter to the saga... she's in for some surprising father moments!"

Finally, we couldn't resist asking about those legendary Anakin memes. While amused by the ubiquitous sand references and Naboo meadow scenes, Christensen currently favors Palpatine meme variations. "The one where I tell Palpatine to just stop shooting lightning is pure comedic gold," he laughed.