Robert De Niro Stopped by the REVENGE OF THE SITH Set to Watch Anakin and Obi-Wan’s Epic Duel
Every so often, a fun Star Wars behind-the-scenes story pops up that we’ve never heard before. Hayden Christensen recently shared a memory from the making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith that involves an unexpected visitor quietly observing one of the most iconic lightsaber battles ever filmed.
While speaking at Fan Expo New Orleans, Christensen revealed that Robert De Niro paid a visit to the set during production, right in the middle of filming the massive duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The reason for the visit was see what George Lucas was up to as he crafted the final chapter of the prequel trilogy. Christensen explained how the moment unfolded during a long day of shooting the duel.
"I remember during one of the days that we were filming that fight, Robert De Niro showed up to set, just because he wanted to come see what we were doing – not us, but George, [he] wanted to see what George was doing.
“And obviously, I am a huge fan of his. I remember just standing with Ewan [McGregor], and Ewan says to me, 'Is that Robert De Niro standing over there?' And I'm looking over like, 'Yeah, I think that is him.'"
At that point, both actors were already deep into the physically demanding shoot, and seeing a legendary actor casually watching from the sidelines added an extra layer of excitement. Christensen said De Niro eventually came over to chat.
"And so we're excited he's there, and then he walked over, and he was very friendly, and I remember, because I would do a lot of push-ups before each take to try to get my heart rate up and a little exhaustion going, and he came over to me and he said, 'You know, I see you doing push-ups before the takes.' He was like, 'I do that, too.' That felt good."
It’s a small moment, but it says a lot about how even actors at the very top of the industry can appreciate the grind of a massive production like Revenge of the Sith. It also paints a cool picture of De Niro taking it all in as Anakin and Obi-Wan clashed on Mustafar.
Christensen also found himself at the center of some Star Wars chatter at the same convention after sidestepping a harmless question about what advice Force ghost Anakin might give his grandson Kylo Ren.
That brief pause sparked online speculation about a rumored Hunt for Ben Solo project that would follow Ben after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. At the moment, there’s no evidence that such a movie exists, but it’s fun to think about.
As for what’s actually coming next, Christensen is confirmed to return in Ahsoka Season 2. The first season ended with Force ghost Anakin watching over his former Padawan on Peridea, which strongly suggests his presence will continue, whether as a spirit or through more World Between Worlds flashbacks.
Before that arrives, Star Wars fans will get their next theatrical fix with The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is set to hit theaters on May 22.