Hayden Christensen just dropped a massive hint about the return of the Ahsoka season 1 finale set up that return.
At the end of season 1, Anakin appeared as a Force Ghost on Peridea, watching over Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren. While the exact story details of Anakin's return in Ahsoka season 2 remain tightly under wraps (and Rosario Dawson, Dave Filoni, and Hayden Christensen all confirmed the story is constantly being rewritten), that conclusion to season 1 leaves many thrilling story opportunities on the table. However, Hayden Christensen's recent comments suggest that he will have yet another return as Darth Vader, entirely separate from Ahsoka season 2.
Hayden Christensen Knows There Are So Many "Rich" Darth Vader Stories To Be Told
There's Still More To Explore, Even Now
Per Deadline, Hayden Christensen recently spoke about the "very rich stories" left to tell about Darth Vader. Specifically, Christensen said:
“There’s a lot that we could still explore with Vader...I think from where we left off, after Episode III, and everything that he has to reconcile after he’s trapped in this new version of himself, there’s just a lot of very rich stories that we could still tell.”
Although Christensen didn't confirm that this means a new show—in addition to Ahsoka season 2—is coming, several aspects of this comment suggest there are at minimum ideas percolating about Christensen's return to Star Wars as Darth Vader.
One of the most interesting aspects of this comment is the emphasis on Vader, not Anakin. By mentioning that there are untold stories after Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith in particular, Christensen is very clearly talking about the early days of Darth Vader as a Sith Lord. The notion that this is a "new version of himself," in which he feels "trapped" reinforces that this return would be set just after Revenge of the Sith in the Star Wars timeline.
Anakin Skywalker's Complete Star Wars Timeline Explained: Chosen One Prophecy, Fall To The Dark Side, & Redemption
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader's influence on Star Wars cannot be overstated, and this complete timeline represents all the key events in his story.
No, Hayden Christensen Isn't Talking About Ahsoka Season 2
It Just Doesn't Make Sense For These Comments To Be About Ahsoka
While some may interpret this as Christensen providing additional insight into his potential story arc in Ahsoka season 2, that isn't my read on these comments at all. Rather, in the same Deadline article, Christensen described his excitement about getting to be the heroic version of Anakin in Ahsoka, saying:
"But I’m really loving getting to sort of play the more heroic side of the character in the Ahsoka show, and I’m very excited for Season 2.”
This is entirely at odds with what Christensen described in reference to the early days of Darth Vader and his feeling trapped (presumably a direct reference to the newness of his restrictive, even painful suit).
One could argue that this could still be explored in Ahsoka season 2 through flashbacks, but even that just doesn't make sense. Ahsoka is focused on an entirely different era of Star Wars, and it is very clearly Ahsoka's story—not Anakin's. Anakin of course plays a role as Ahsoka's former Jedi Master and as someone she continues to care deeply about, but an exploration of Vader's experience following Revenge of the Sith just wouldn't make sense here.
In fact, a deeper look into this complex aspect of Darth Vader as a character effectively demands its own show or movie. I'm therefore thoroughly convinced that Hayden Christensen is teasing a Darth Vader show. This has long been rumored, or at the very least hoped for, among the fanbase, and while some may push back against it, many would be overjoyed to see Christensen return as Darth Vader and really get to explore that version of the character.
What Hayden Christensen's Comments Could Mean For A Vader Story
The Idea That Vader Feels Trapped Nods Toward A Very Specific Story
Hayden Christensen's comments even offer some ideas about what a Vader show could entail in of its story. Specifically, the idea that Vader feels trapped calls to mind stories from Star Wars books and comics regarding just how much Darth Vader suffered in his suit. It's difficult to capture on screen, but this suit actually caused him daily pain, and it was a pain that only fueled his rage, anger, and hatred.
In addition to that concept, a Darth Vader show is the perfect way to finally depict Vader's desperate attempts to resurrect Pé. The comics have shown these efforts and Vader's intense grief and guilt over Star Wars movies and TV shows. On the contrary, the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, which is set in this same era, focused almost exclusively on Vader's hunt for Obi-Wan.
It's more than time for Star Wars to do more with Pé's character, especially concerning her death—and this could perhaps even mean the return of Natalie Portman, at least for flashbacks or even visions/nightmares Vader could be experiencing. This would certainly constitute a rich story, and it's one that really needs to be shown on screen at some point. Although this is currently speculative, Hayden Christensen's recent comments about a return to Star Wars have me totally convinced we are getting a Darth Vader show.
Source: Deadline
