Hayden Christensen is best ed as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars saga is divided in three: the original trilogy, the prequels, and the sequels. The original films introduced the audience to a galaxy far, far, away and unforgettable characters like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, and villain Darth Vader.
In order to expand on the backstory of Darth Vader and better explain the history of the Jedi, Sith, the Republic, and the Empire, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. The prequels focused on the life of Anakin Skywalker, from his days as a young slave in Tatooine to his rise as Sith lord Darth Vader. The second film, Attack of the Clones, had a time jump of ten years and featured an older (though not necessarily wiser) Anakin Skywalker, played by Hayden Christensen.
For years, the forgive the prequels and Hayden Christensen. As it happens with most big productions, Attack of the Clones went through an extensive casting process to find a new Anakin Skywalker, and Hayden Christensen wasn’t exactly at the top of the list.
Star Wars: Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Played Anakin Skywalker
Young Anakin Skywalker was played by Jake Lloyd in The Phantom Menace, and when it was time to cast an older Anakin for Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas auditioned a number of actors, most of them unknown at the time. However, being Star Wars and Anakin holding so much importance in the saga, the role caught the attention of many established actors as well. Among those who auditioned for the part of Anakin Skywalker were Ryan Phillippe, Paul Walker, Colin Hanks, Heath Ledger, James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Eric Christian Olsen, Erik von Detten, Chris Klein, and Jonathan Brandis.
Leonardo DiCaprio was also interested in the role and even met with Lucas, but DiCaprio’s publicist said he was “definitely unavailable”, and ed on the opportunity. Lucas ended up going for a not-so-known actor with Hayden Christensen, who wasn’t exactly a newcomer as he had already appeared in films like The Virgin Suicides and Life as a House, but he wasn’t a well-known name either. Of course, not playing Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars saga wasn’t a big loss for DiCaprio, as he starred in two films released the same year as Attack of the Clones (Catch Me If You Can and Gangs of New York), and has become one of the most respected actors of his generation. As for Hayden Christensen, the backlash over his performance as Anakin Skywalker was intense, and although he’s still active, he has stayed away from the spotlight.
