While Revenge of the Sith revealed Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader, we haven't really gotten to spend a significant amount of time with the fallen hero in the wake of his turn to the Dark Side. We know from various tie-in material that he struggled to adapt to his new body, but Obi-Wan Kenobi will pick up with the Sith Lord at a time we've rarely seen explored before now.
Set 10 years before the events of A New Hope, Hayden Christensen's return suggests we'll get to see more of Vader without his helmet on. However, this series won't be the first to offer a glimpse of his face, because Star Wars Rebels confirmed that Anakin remains as twisted as ever beneath the mask when a battle with his former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, led to his helmet being partially destroyed.
In a perfect throwback to The Clone Wars, actor Matt Lanter returned to voice Anakin, and despite an apparent moment of doubt, he was still full of hatred. It was one of the show's coolest moments, and when we had the actor on the phone to discuss his role in DC Showcase - Blue Beetle, we wondered if he would be open to returning as the Anakin who has transformed into the sinister Darth Vader.
"That’s a really great question. The masked Darth Vader seems like such a different character to Anakin," Lanter responded. "Even in the films, the James Earl Jones booming void of emotion character we know as Darth Vader seems very different to me. Would I like to play that version? Possibly. I feel like that’s a big undertaking in a lot of ways as it’s a different character."
"I think you specifically mentioned the unmasked version and that would be pretty cool. What was so unique about that moment [in Rebels] is that we literally saw the helmet break on the face jaggedly down the centre of his face and we saw Anakin and we saw Darth Vader. It was just this stark reminder that there’s a person inside of there and we loved him and knew him as Anakin."
"It was a really cool creative choice made by Dave Filoni. Bottom line, any time I get to play in the Star Wars Universe, I’m happy and up for it," Lanter concluded with a laugh. "There you go!"
There's obviously a reason Vader wears that helmet, but there's no reason a future animated project couldn't reveal more about what happens when it comes off. This likely wouldn't be the biggest role for Lanter, but given how effortlessly and perfectly he transformed into the villainous Anakin in Rebels, we've no doubt he would make the most of it in order to deliver another standout performance.
Take a look at the video below for a reminder of why this exchange was such a memorable one: