Hayden Christensen Praises ROGUE ONE, Says It “Captured the Essence of What Star Wars Is Meant To Be”
Anakin Skywalker himself is showing some serious love for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Even though Hayden Christensen wasn’t part of the 2016 film, his legendary character Darth Vader delivered one of the most talked about moments in modern Star Wars, and Christensen is fully on board with how it all turned out.
In a recent fan appearance, he opened up about why the movie stands out for him and why its take on Vader hit exactly the right notes.
At Fan Expo Boston, Christensen reflected on the saga and singled out Rogue One as a personal favorite. “I was always a big Empire [Strikes Back] fan. And from some of the more recent films, I loved Rogue One. I thought that, for me, really kind of captured the essence of what Star Wars is meant to be,” he said. “And I loved how they portrayed Darth Vader in that film, too.”
For many fans, Vader’s role in Rogue One is unforgettable, from his tense exchange with Director Krennic to the electrifying hallway sequence that closes out the film.
Christensen also acknowledged the long legacy behind the character. “There are so many different people that have contributed to this character, and I'm just one of them,” he added. “And I loved what they did.”
Even though Rogue One characters like Krennic and Cassian Andor returned in Andor, Vader never walked onto that series’ stage. Creator Tony Gilroy explained why. “No, that was never on my agenda,” he said when asked about including the Sith Lord. “Writing for Darth Vader is really limiting. I've done it. He doesn’t have a lot to say.”
Christensen, however, isn’t done with the galaxy far far away. He will return as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2, arriving next year. “There's not much that I can share, but Anakin will be back for season 2,” he revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2025.
How Anakin appears is still a mystery since the character showed up as a Force ghost at the end of season 1. Fans are already wondering if Season 2 will explore more visions in the World Between Worlds or bring in new flashbacks from Anakin’s past.
The next release on the franchise calendar is The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to hit theaters May 22.