Star Wars fans knew that Hayden Christensen would show up as Anakin (and/or Darth Vader) in the Ahsoka series at some point. Viewers did not expect his on-screen presence with Rosario Dawson to shine as brightly as it did.
Christensen’s character reunited with Ahsoka Tano in the World Between Worlds at the very end of Episode 4, and Episode 5 heavily featured the two journeying through the past to deal with lingering grievances.
In the video below, the two actors unpack their characters’ reunion and what it was like for both to play these iconic roles, in live-action and side-by-side, for the very first time.
Join Rosario Dawson and Hayden Christensen as they go behind the scenes of Ahsoka and Anakin's reunion
— Star Wars (@starwars) September 18, 2023
Episode 5 of @AhsokaOfficial is now streaming on @DisneyPlus, with new episodes on Tuesdays at 6PM PT.
(Previously Recorded) pic.twitter.com/AgZXSDMWb3
“When I got the phone call to talk about being part of the Ahsoka project, I was thrilled,” Christensen told Entertainment Tonight. “It kind of blows your mind every time … I just feel very grateful.”
Dawson, who has taken on the daunting task of portraying Ahsoka Tano in place of original voice actor Ashley Eckstein, has displayed a deep and emotional understanding of the character and what matters to her most.
“It’s really, really powerful for Ahsoka, to see her guard come down,” she said in the above video. “We know her as a stoic, super-powerful, on top of it, warrior, and all of a sudden, she’s Padawan again.”
Throughout the series thus far, Ahsoka has carried the weight of her past failures — not just as Sabine’s master, but also as Anakin’s apprentice. Their shared journey through the World Between Worlds allowed Ahsoka to process the guilt and shame that have kept her closed off for so many years.
The reunion between Anakin and Ahsoka happened for the first time in live-action during this episode, and seeing the characters interact felt, to many viewers, like returning home.
New episodes of Star Wars: Ahsoka release Tuesday evenings exclusively on Disney+.
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