Heading into Ahsoka, Hayden Christensen's planned return as Anakin Skywalker was perhaps the show's worst-kept secret. Lucasfilm never announced the news but the trades had reported on him joining the series as had a number of reliable scoopers.
After playing Anakin and Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi last year, Christensen was given another strong supporting role in the Star Wars Rebels follow-up for scenes set during The Clone Wars. He also appeared as a Force Ghost in the World Between Worlds, revealing that, even in death, the former Jedi-turned-Sith-turned-Jedi-again remained conflicted.
Now, the actor has confirmed he also donned Darth Vader's suit for those brief, yet impactful, scenes as the iconic villain.
"Putting on the Anakin costume, getting to wear those Jedi robes, it's such an honor," he told StarWars.com (via SFFGazette.com) prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. "And getting to put on the Darth Vader costume again, such an honor."
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"It really imparts a feeling when you put those costumes on, and of course I'm very familiar with the character, and I really enjoy the headspace and the emotional space that I have to inhabit."
Christensen would go on to praise the work of Dave Filoni, Ahsoka's showrunner and the director of that standout episode set primarily in The World Between Worlds.
"He's [Dave Filoni] really just incredible in terms of his artistry and his storytelling. He's a real creative force and his love and his passion for Star Wars is really infectious. It inspires everyone around him, myself included, and so to get to work and follow the lead of someone that inspires you, it doesn't really get any better than that."
Ahsoka's finale strongly hinted that Anakin will have a role to play on Peridea now Ahsoka Tano is stranded there, a move which makes sense considering he too has a connection with The Mortis Gods...you can find out more about that here.
Set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka follows the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
In addition to Rosario Dawson in the title role, the series stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, David Tennant as Huyang, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Eman Esfandi appearing as Ezra Bridger.
Ahsoka was written by Dave Filoni, who executive produces alongside Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck. Directors include Filoni, Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Rick Famuyiwa.
All episodes of Ahsoka are now streaming on Disney+.