Darth Vader actor Hayden Christensen watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels before filming Obi-Wan Kenobi. Seventeen years after he last appeared in a Star Wars project, Hayden Christensen is making his highly-anticipated return as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Lucasfilm previously confirmed his return as the Sith Lord in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series. It reunited Christensen with Ewan McGregor for the first time since Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and marks the actor's biggest return to the spotlight since the prequels concluded.
Although the Star Wars prequels were heavily criticized at the time, there is great optimism and excitement to see Hayden Christensen return. He's set to wear the Darth Vader armor in the Disney+ series and take part in an epic rematch against Obi-Wan. While Obi-Wan Kenobi is the first time Christensen will play Darth Vader since Revenge of the Sith, the character's story in the galaxy far, far away has been fleshed out continuously since then. This included Anakin's prominent role in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Darth Vader's presence in Star Wars Rebels. The animated shows received great acclaim for their characterization of Anakin Skywalker.
In a new interview with EW, Christensen revealed that he did plenty of prep work to return for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not only did he rewatch all of the Star Wars movies, but he confirmed that he dove into the animated shows as well, namely The Clone Wars and Rebels. His workload became a bit heavier in early 2020 when Disney+ released Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7. For Christensen, he said it was interesting to see how these animated shows explored the various characters, their relationships, and expand the mythology.
It was interesting. They did a lot with these characters in those shows. And they did further explore the relationship. There was interesting stuff there to learn about. It was great fun getting to go back and re-immerse yourself in this world that just continues to grow and become more and more vast.
Since Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place before Star Wars Rebels, it is really the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars that are of the utmost importance for Christensen. The series is routinely praised for how it really established the brotherly bond between Anakin and Obi-Wan, something George Lucas' prequels didn't fully deliver on. Of course, The Clone Wars is also where Anakin's padawan Ahsoka was introduced. Star Wars Rebels still holds plenty of value for Christensen, as this is where the Inquisitors were introduced and Darth Vader's power was on full display.
While Christensen didn't have to watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels to return, it likely enriched and changed his approach to playing Darth Vader in Obi-Wan. It is also a decision that will surely please fans of the shows, as they now know that he understands the character development done for Anakin in the shows. This should also benefit Christensen beyond Obi-Wan Kenobi, as these stories will come into play with his reported return for Ahsoka.
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Source: EW
