Summary

verbalize at FAN EXPO Philadelphia , Hayden Christensen has let on how Jake Lloyd ’s portrayal ofAnakin Skywalkeraffected his own version . The last few years have go steady Hayden Christensen return to the character of Anakin Skywalker , playing the part inObi - Wan KenobiandAhsoka . But he was n’t the first actor to work the part;Jake Lloyd played Anakin Skywalker inStar war : The Phantom Menace , and it sounds as though he had an enduring influence .

address at the dialog box " Hayden Christensen and Rosario Dawson : A Galactic Reunion " ( hosted by Kevin Polowy for Screen Rant , a media partner at the event ) , Christensen bring out he cautiously studied Lloyd ’s mannerisms and copied some of them . The most notable was the iconic half - smile , which became characteristic to all versions of Anakin . This ensured viewers got a horse sense of persistence , even through the different iteration .

Exclusive : Hayden Christensen says Darth Vader ’s most far-famed Star Wars line at FAN EXPO Philadelphia on Star Wars Day , and rooter go perfectly wild .

Anakin Skywalker from Revenge of the Sith wielding his blue lightsaber in the middle with Darth Vader to the left and Anakin with Sith eyes to the right in a combined image

George Lucas' Star Wars Is Anakin Skywalker’s Story First & Foremost

Christensen always understood that Anakin Skywalker was not his character to define ; rather , he was simply embodying a character created by George Lucas , and one who had already been played by other role player . There ’s a sense , then , in which Christensen did n’t " own " the role in the direction many other actors do ; rather , he borrowed it , and sought to honour the one who did own it . He study other portrait of Anakin , allowing them to tempt his own public presentation .

This glide slope has a profound impact on howStar warfare ' movies and showsshould be watched . It mean viewers are watching the transformative journeys of specific characters , rather than simply enjoying private actors;the franchise and the function is bigger than the performing artist . Christensen understood this , and it likely helped him when he was face with the initial ( now largely dull ) backlash against the continuation trilogy .

Ironically , modernStar Warshas shinny on this very head . Lucasfilm presently keep up that the grounds forSolo : A Star Wars Story ’s loge bureau failure lay in recasting , ad actor are frequently bring back via expensive de - aging - most notably Mark Hamill and even Christensen himself . There ’s a sense in which this work against the very ethos of George Lucas himself , because it means the thespian have become draw to the office in a way he would have objected to . Still , this has grant for the return of Christensen , so nobody is going to plain aboutAnakin Skywalkerbeing back .

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

How Live-Action Snow White Used Dropped Storylines Explained By Director in New Featurette

Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith (2005) next to Jake Lloyd as Anakin in The Phantom Menace (1999)

Custom Image made by Debanjana Chowdhury

Anakin Skywalker and R2-D2 standing in front of Anakin’s ship on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader