In the history of film and TV, there has been thousands of memorable villains but only a few are as iconic as Darth Vader from the Star Wars Universe. Now, fans get to see the Sith lord in live-action once again in the upcoming Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. Hayden Christensen will be reprising his role he was last seen in during the final moments of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith — the third installment of the prequel trilogy.
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith showed Anakin Skywalker abandon his former identity as a Jedi to become the Sith Lord. In the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Vader will show he is still coping with letting go of certain parts of his former self resulting in him being very vengeful and taking on hunting his former teacher very personal. Christensen will be able to show all-new elements of the character in the Disney+ series.
“This is sort of a point in the timeline that hasn’t really been explored yet, and I think that the character of Darth Vader is at an interesting point in his life, in terms of what has happened before and where we left him in Episode III,” said Christensen during a virtual interview with The Cutaway with William Mullally. “He’s very much sort of trying to reconcile his past, and hunting down the Jedi… obviously it’s his job and he’s mandated by the Emperor, but it’s more than that. It’s a personal mission for him.”
Before the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Darth Vader’s struggles to accept his new identity and leave Anakin Skywalker behind has not been explored in live-action. Asides from Rogue One, the events between the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy of the Star Wars films have only been explored through various animated shows, novels and comic books. Now fans will be offered an insightful first look into Vader’s true nature and into the tortured life he is living.
Obi-Wan Kenobi begins 10 years after the fall of the Jedi in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where the Jedi Master experienced the downfall and corruption of his best friend and apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. The film ended with Kenobi taking the newly born Skywalker twins to their new homes in attempt to hide them from their father, Darth Vader. Now, he must keep watch from a distance and keep Luke Skywalker safe from the Sith Lord.
The Obi-Wan Kenobi series stars Ewan McGregor as the iconic Jedi Master and the return of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader. Joining them are Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell, and Benny Safdie.
Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian) directed the Star Wars spinoff with Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Deborah Chow, Ewan McGregor, and Joby Harold serving as executive-producers.
Hayden Christensen’s Darth Vader returns to live-action when Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres May 27th on Disney+.
