New details emerge about Hayden Christensen’s role as Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi

Note: This article includes potentially heavy spoilers for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

It’s a fun time in Star Wars as we’re currently in between series and get to enjoy the rumors, reports and speculation part of being a fan that comes during times like these.

And now, the fun is really beginning thanks to a new report from Star Wars News Net, who have shared new alleged details about Hayden Christensen’s role in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. Of course, it’s a no-brainer that Christensen will be back as the formidable Darth Vader in this series. But Christensen isn’t really known as the “face” of Darth Vader, nor the voice. Simply put, Christensen is best known for portraying Vader during his Anakin Skywalker days. So why would he return to reprise his role as the Sith lord if he’s going to be behind the mask?

Well, the latest report now has a good explanation for that. As SWNN has found, it’s very likely that we will see Vader without his mask on — thus showing this rarely-seen side of Vader when he’s not equipped with his protective armor.

Obi-Wan Kenobi photo leaks

This photo of Vader from the report, which they say is official art for the series, shows exactly what that can look like. It’s a fully exposed Darth Vader from the torso up, showing the body modifications that he needs in order to survive in the suit — down to the mechanical throat implant and breathing apparatus.

Another photo included in the report was an artistic rendering of a bacta tank seen on set. (Bacta tanks are essentially medical tanks that provide healing.) We first saw this in The Empire Strikes Back when Luke was brought back from the freezing cold on Hoth and placed in the tank for healing.

This means we could potentially see Christensen himself in there just like Luke. And with both of these photos in mind, it means we’ll see Vader when he’s at his most vulnerable. Yes, he will still be as powerful as ever. But while he’s exposed in such a way, this means we’ll get to see a different side of Vader, the part of Vader that still shows he’s human deep down inside.

Just how much of Darth Vader we’ll see, though, isn’t clear. But one thing’s for sure, if the report is true, we know fans will be super excited to see Christensen’s face again as the character.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series will premiere sometime in 2022 on Disney+.