One of the most exciting announcements from Star Wars Celebration is that Hayden Christensen will be reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2 of *Ahsoka*. Following this thrilling news, we had the opportunity to sit down with Christensen to discuss his return to the iconic character after nearly two decades, his appreciation for the darker elements of Star Wars, and even his favorite Anakin meme.

Our conversation kicked off with a discussion about which Anakin stories Christensen would like to explore further. He expressed a strong desire to delve deeper into the Clone Wars era, a period mostly covered in animation where he was voiced by Matt Lanter. "I would love to get to do some more of the Clone Wars-era," Christensen shared enthusiastically. He also mentioned that his friend Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi, would be interested as well. "It's a cool look. It's a cool sort of period in Star Wars and I think there are great stories that we could tell there. So who knows, maybe one day," he added. While acknowledging that it would require some "aging" magic to make it happen, Christensen remains committed to the character and eager to explore more of Anakin's journey, including further delving into the Darth Vader timeline.

As *Revenge of the Sith* approaches its 20th anniversary on May 19, 2025, we shifted our focus to this pivotal film, known for its darker tone within the franchise. Christensen praised George Lucas for his bold storytelling choices. "George Lucas made some very bold choices and I love that he did that," he remarked. He appreciated how Lucas handled intense scenes, such as Anakin's turn to the dark side and the killing of the younglings, in a way that was impactful yet still digestible for the audience. "I like it when Star Wars goes dark. That works for me," Christensen affirmed.

Reflecting on his return to the role after nearly 20 years, Christensen noted the personal growth he experienced during that time. "Of course it feels different. I'm different," he said. "I've had 20 years of life that I didn't have before, and that just sort of changes your perspective on things. But in a lot of ways, I feel even more connected to Anakin now than I ever have because I've had more time to think about him and sort of try to understand him." He views revisiting the character as a unique exercise in acting, appreciating the opportunity to account for the passage of time.

Finally, we touched on the ongoing debate about the best order to watch the Star Wars films. Christensen remained neutral, stating, "I don't know that there is a right way or a wrong way, and I think there's merit to both. I think George Lucas would like you to start with episode one and experience the story in a linear fashion, but there's definitely something to be said for starting with episode four." He also humorously noted his hesitation about showing the films to his daughter, given the "gnarly stuff" his character does.

To wrap up our interview, we couldn't resist asking about the many Anakin memes that have circulated online. While Christensen has seen the infamous "sand" meme countless times and enjoys the one of him and Padmé in the field, his current favorite is a humorous take on a scene from *Revenge of the Sith*. In the meme, Emperor Palpatine begs Anakin to not let Mace Windu kill him, and Anakin responds, "He's just reflecting your lightning back you... just stop shooting lightning!"