Leonardo DiCaprio, Heath Ledger, and 4 other actors who almost played Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars

Paul Walker was upset over losing Anakin Skywalker role

And our final actor on this list is the late Paul Walker, who most people will know from The Fast and Furious movie franchise. Though the actor was already on his way to becoming a household name at the time Attack of the Clones came out with films like She’s All That (1999), Varsity Blues (1999), and The Fast and Furious (2002), the Star Wars prequel trilogy would’ve no doubt made him an even bigger A-lister.

And it appears Walker was very upset about losing the role, especially to newcomer Hayden Christensen. As reported by Time, the actor spoke with Teen Movieline in 2000 where he shared that Star Wars was one job he took badly losing out on. He said:

"“I was really bummed out that I didn’t get the part of Anakin in Star Wars: Episode II. But there were rumours circulating so I don’t know how close I came to actually getting it. Josh Jackson was apparently in talks to play Anakin, too. (Laughs) You can’t say anything, but a part of me was thinking ‘You B*****d! You better not get the part over me!’ At the same time, you’d be happy if he does get it rather [than] Hayden Christensen, some no-namer from Canada. He’ll probably be good, though. Well, at least he’ll show up on time and know his lines. (Laughs).”"

With all the money Walker likely went on to make with The Fast and Furious films, among others, we hope he didn’t stay bitter for too much longer.

Hayden Christensen is returning to Star Wars

Whether you love or hate the prequels, many Star Wars fans do feel like Hayden Christensen was the perfect fit for Anakin Skywalker. And if you’re one of those people, I’m sure you’re excited about the upcoming Obi-Wan live-action series for Disney+, which will feature the actor as Darth Vader. The anticipation is real for that new show, and fans of the prequel trilogy are incredibly hyped to see how it all unfolds.

As of now, the Obi-Wan Kenobi show does not yet have a release date, but we can most likely expect it to debut sometime in 2022. And for those wondering if Natalie Portman will appear in some capacity, we’re right there with you. Don’t underestimate the power of flashbacks!

Do you think Star Wars made the right decision casting Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, or do you wish one of these actors would’ve scored the role? Let us know in the comments section!