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Observe: this text initially ran in March 2021 and has now been up to date to mirror the information that Christensen can be showing in Star Wars: Ahsoka.The ensemble forged for Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi is a wholesome mixture of acquainted faces and returning favorites, however one title stands out above all others. Hayden Christensen is making an sudden return to the franchise, reprising the function of Darth Vader 15 years after Revenge of the Sith and serving as a significant antagonist within the Disney+ sequence. Not solely that, however Christensen can be reportedly showing within the Mandalorian spinoff sequence Star Wars: Ahsoka.Christensen’s efficiency as Anakin Skywalker has at all times been divisive at greatest. Nevertheless, this could solely be seen as nice information for anybody desirous to study this misplaced interval in Obi-Wan and Anakin’s lives. Not solely is that this a second likelihood for Christensen to make Darth Vader his personal, it could very nicely clear up a decades-old Star Wars thriller. How can the sequence tie up a significant free finish from Return of the Jedi? Learn on to search out out.Fixing a Main Star Wars Plot HoleDisney has gotten a shocking quantity of mileage out of utilizing new Star Wars tasks to handle outdated plot holes and unanswered questions concerning the motion pictures. Marvel’s present quantity of Star Wars alone has accomplished the whole lot from canon-izing Luke’s yellow lightsaber to revealing how Luke managed to get better his X-Wing from Cloud Metropolis. The Obi-Wan Kenobi sequence has the potential to handle a a lot greater and extra essential free finish from Return of the Jedi.As author Nick Arkis factors out, there’s one thing very odd about Vader’s dialog with a newly captured Luke on Endor. Luke insists some hint of Anakin Skywalker nonetheless stays, to which Vader responds, “Obi-Wan as soon as thought as you do.”How does Vader really know Obi-Wan felt that manner? After we final see the 2 collectively in Revenge of the Sith, a despondent Obi-Wan leaves his fallen good friend to slowly burn to dying. Once they meet once more in A New Hope, Obi-Wan provides no indication he thinks Vader is succesful, or deserving, of redemption. To Vader, Obi-Wan is just an enemy to be vanquished and yet one more tether to his outdated life to be severed. So why in Return of the Jedi does Vader instantly have this newfound perception into Obi-Wan’s motivations?Will this scene tackle new context due to the Obi-Wan Kenobi sequence?The reply, it will appear, is that the 2 had one other fateful encounter in between the 2 trilogies. Having had years to meditate and mirror, Obi-Wan most likely has much more perspective on his pupil’s tragic downfall. He understands how Anakin turned corrupted and is aware of the Emperor cannot have completely eradicated the goodness inside Darth Vader. Once they do lastly reunite within the new sequence – whether or not that happens in particular person or by means of some type of Rey/Kylo Ren-style Power communion – we may even see Obi-Wan attempt to cause with Vader and reawaken Anakin Skywalker. Clearly, he isn’t going to achieve success, however we might come to appreciate the occasions of the sequence mark step one in Anakin Skywalker’s lengthy journey again towards the sunshine. Whereas Obi-Wan’s appeals will fall on deaf ears on this sequence, they will resonate sufficient with the Darkish Lord of the Sith that he relays them to Luke years later.If Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi is nothing kind of than the story behind Vader’s cryptic phrases to Luke in Return of the Jedi, it is a story nicely price telling. And it is one that may solely be advised by bringing Hayden Christensen again to the fold and showcasing the frail, wounded man beneath the armor.Reuniting Obi-Wan and AnakinChristensen’s casting is actually an intriguing improvement. It implies we will see an terrible lot of Darth Vader within the sequence, doubtless each out and in of his ebony armor. In any case, why hassle bringing Christensen again if we’re not going to see Anakin’s face? It is not as if he was recruited to play Vader in Rogue One. We might even see the sequence borrow a web page from Marvel’s Darth Vader comics and present Anakin’s psychological self-image as he meditates.That does elevate a variety of questions on how the sequence is meant to suit into the bigger Star Wars mythos. So far as the flicks would have us consider, Anakin and Obi-Wan do not have one other encounter in between their duel on Mustafar and their rematch aboard the Dying Star. Why would they? Obi-Wan’s one mission throughout this whole 19-year interval is to maintain a low profile and guard younger Luke. The very last thing he desires is to place himself on Vader’s radar once more.That every one being mentioned, it is not as if there’s something within the motion pictures explicitly ruling out the opportunity of one other assembly between Anakin and Obi-Wan. When Vader first detects Obi-Wan’s presence aboard the Dying Star, he muses, “I sense one thing, a presence I’ve not felt since…” Conveniently, he stops wanting naming the place and time. For the reason that launch of Episode III, followers have naturally assumed Vader was reflecting on the Mustafar duel. However apparently we had been mistaken.If there’s one factor previous Star Wars TV tasks have excelled at, it is dancing between the raindrops of the flicks to inform new tales. The Clone Wars gave us a revived Darth Maul and Anakin’s Padawan Ahsoka Tano with out violating something that occurs in Episode III. A misplaced Obi-Wan vs. Darth Vader story set between Episodes III and IV is hardly out of the query.If something, the emphasis on Darth Vader ought to be taken as a superb signal for the sequence. Earlier Obi-Wan tales set on this period (most notably John Jackson Miller’s 2013 novel Star Wars: Kenobi) have taken a reasonably small-scale method. They’re mainly area Westerns set on Tatooine. However with Vader within the image, we will anticipate a a lot greater battle with a extra tangible impression on the Star Wars timeline. One thing goes to compel Obi-Wan to depart the protection of his new house and enterprise again out into the galaxy, even when it means risking the discover of his former Padawan. Unfinished enterprise from the Clone Wars? The emergence of different new Jedi? No matter it’s, it’ll seize Vader’s discover.Hayden Christensen within the Ahsoka SeriesNow we all know the Kenobi sequence is only one of not less than two new Star Wars tasks to characteristic Christensen as Anakin Skywalker. Christensen can be showing in Star Wars: Ahsoka. There is a very Star Wars-y symmetry to the truth that each reveals will characteristic pivotal reunions between a Jedi and their former apprentice. This casting information raises questions of its personal. The Ahsoka sequence is about after the occasions of The Mandalorian: Season 2, that means it takes place roughly 5 years after Anakin’s dying in Return of the Jedi. So how precisely does the character match into this story?The apparent reply is Anakin will seem as a Power Ghost. We all know he is among the many few Jedi able to manifesting himself after dying, and Lucas even went to the difficulty of changing Sebastian Shaw’s Power ghost Anakin with new footage of Christensen’s Anakin within the RotJ Particular Version. There’s additionally a precedent for Anakin’s ghost manifesting within the basic Legends timeline, as he appeared to Leia within the 1993 novel Star Wars: Truce at Bakura (not that she was notably joyful to see him).Regardless of having redeemed himself by destroying the Emperor, Anakin might really feel he has unfinished enterprise to take care of earlier than really turning into one with the Power. That will nicely embody communing with Ahsoka and attempting to finish their relationship on higher phrases. Do not forget that the 2 final encountered one another within the Season 2 finale of Star Wars Rebels, the place Ahsoka noticed firsthand simply how far her former grasp had fallen.Power ghosts have a tendency to look when dwelling Jedi most want their assist. Anakin might take it upon himself to information Ahsoka simply because the spectral Obi-Wan did for Luke within the unique trilogy. Anakin might assist information Ahsoka in her hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn. He could also be conscious that the specter of Emperor Palpatine is much from over. He may even be the important thing to steering Ahsoka towards his son Luke. If it seems that Ahsoka performed a job in serving to Luke construct his Jedi academy, we might nicely have the late Anakin Skywalker to thank.As with the Kenobi sequence, it is completely potential the Ahsoka sequence may additionally characteristic Christensen’s Anakin through Clone Wars-era flashbacks. After years of seeing the Anakin/Ahsoka dynamic play out in animated and comedian guide kind, it will be a pleasant change to see their adventures in live-action for as soon as. A Likelihood at Star Wars RedemptionThere’s been an enormous cultural shift in the case of the Star Wars prequels lately, with many followers reevaluating these critically divisive movies and their place within the bigger Star Wars canon. There are all kinds of causes behind that pattern. For some, they’ve merely improved with age and the nostalgia issue. For others lower than thrilled with Disney’s execution of the sequel trilogy, the prequels may appear much less offensive by comparability. And for these youthful followers who had been kids when the prequels had been popping out (in different phrases, George Lucas’ precise audience), they might not perceive what all of the outrage was about within the first place.Although maybe greater than anything, it is due to tasks like Star Wars: The Clone Wars that followers at the moment are capable of see the prequels in the very best gentle. As we have argued earlier than, The Clone Wars has successfully redeemed the prequels, including in all of the depth and nuance that was absent within the movies themselves. They could be essentially flawed in numerous methods, however these motion pictures have their place within the bigger Star Wars saga.The identical holds true for Christensen’s efficiency as Anakin. Whereas each bit as flawed as the flicks themselves, there are moments in Episodes II and III the place Christensen does completely embody the torment and temptation of a promising younger Jedi courted by darkness. And in Christensen’s protection, there have been any variety of exterior components working towards him throughout manufacturing. We doubt anybody may have made the wood romantic dialogue between Anakin and Padmé appear really real. And it is arduous to carry your A-game to a undertaking the place the “units” are sometimes little greater than empty blue backgrounds ready to be stuffed in with CG environments and characters. Is it any marvel Christensen’s Anakin and Natalie Portman’s Padmé usually appear so stiff and awkward round one another?Placing aspect the easy pleasure of seeing McGregor again in Obi-Wan’s dusty boots, this sequence is an opportunity for Christensen to hit the reset button and check out once more at bringing this iconic, tragic character to life. This time, his efficiency will not be constrained by not possible fan expectations or Lucas’ idiosyncratic storytelling decisions. With the strain gone and a brand new director behind the digital camera, Christensen could shock us all.For extra on the Star Wars franchise, see what to anticipate from the long-awaited Knights of the Previous Republic remake and take a look at our picks for the very best Star Wars film moments.Jesse is a mild-mannered employees author for IGN. Enable him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
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