Star Wars star's return after divorce from 2000s star
Once a key figure in one of the world's most adored film series, he was a hot topic as a rising star in Hollywood. And now, after some time away from the limelight, he's making a much-anticipated comeback.
Hayden Christensen, cast as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones at the tender age of 19, was catapulted into global fame almost instantly. Despite being part of the most iconic sci-fi franchise ever created, his performance received heavy criticism when Attack of the Clones premiered in 2002.
Many felt his depiction of the future Darth Vader was too rigid and lacked the authoritative aura many thought the character warranted. His subsequent role in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith was somewhat better received, with fans applauding the darker direction his character took.
However, the damage to his aspirations of becoming a movie star was already done.
Unlike his co-stars Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman, Hayden never fully transitioned into a major leading man post-Star Wars. He made occasional appearances in films like Jumper in 2008 and Takers in 2010, but none achieved the success many had anticipated given his evident potential, reports the Mirror US.
Away from the camera, Hayden's personal life also frequently made headlines. He started dating The O.C. actress Rachel Bilson in 2007 after they met on the set of Jumper.
She was a big name on TV and an icon of early 2000's pop culture when the romance bloomed, getting engaged in 2008, then after a brief split, reuniting, and welcoming daughter Briar Rose in 2014. But by 2017 they had split.
Hayden stepped back from the limelight for a time. But by 2022, his stars aligned once more.
Disney gave Hayden the nod to return to the Star Wars universe with their Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. He'd don the cape of Anakin Skywalker and his darker alter-ego, Darth Vader, once again.
"When I got the call, I was thrilled", Hayden told Entertainment Tonight in 2022. "Putting on the Anakin costume, wearing those robes, it blows your mind every time. I feel very grateful."
The fans, especially those who grew up with the prequels, were delighted with his comeback. For many, he was the face of Anakin Skywalker, and now he was finally getting the kudos they reckoned he always had coming.
The Kenobi series saw Hayden slip back into Anakin's boots with more depth, and 2023 swung around with him on screen again in Ahsoka, the Disney+ show about Anakin's one-time apprentice. Here, he brings a seasoned take on Anakin to life.
During a SAG-AFTRA Foundation chat, alongside co-star Rosario Dawson in 2023, the actor said: "It really was trying to honour the relationship that was so thoroughly developed in [the animated series] The Clone Wars.
"For me it was very interesting because of the way it changes Anakin's disposition... There's a slightly different slant to the character because now he has a Padawan... It was really beautiful to see that side in live-action".
His role in the Ahsoka series led to significant buzz, with fans expressing their delight online when the episodes aired. Over on X (which used to be Twitter), one enthusiast said: "I can't believe we have so many new scenes with him!" Another wrote: "This is a wonderful reunion." One particularly moved fan confessed: "Got tears in my eyes while writing this."
In an electrifying reveal at a Tokyo panel earlier this month, Hayden came out as a surprise for the crowd with Rosario Dawson, Dave Filoni, and Jon Favreau, announcing his return for Ahsoka's much-anticipated second season, speculated to drop in May 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Dragons, zombies, dinosaurs, and The Naked Gun coming to a screen near you
Here comes the summer — the big screen blockbusters coming to a cinema or streaming platform near you Ballerina (cinemas, June 6) This spin-off from the world of popular series John Wick centres on Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) as she prepares to train as an assassin. Expect revenge, chaos, and blood-splattered mayhem. Len Wiseman of the Underworld movie series directs. Predator: Killer of Killers (Disney+, June 6) Filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg follows the well-received Prey, starring Amber Midthunder, with another action movie. The film's anthology story revolves around three fierce warriors: A Viking raider guiding a bloody quest for revenge, a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession, and a Second World War pilot who takes to the sky. They don't know it yet, but they are about to become prey for a much greater force. How to Train Your Dragon (cinemas June 13, previews from June 9) How to Train Your Dragon hits cinemas on June 9, 2025. The original animation release of 2010's How to Train Your Dragon was a big hit with family audiences and spawned a multimedia franchise that included two sequels. Now the movie is getting the live-action treatment, with a cast that includes Gerard Butler — reprising his role in the original film — and Nico Parker. Set on the island of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been enemies for years, tradition is upended by a young Viking boy named Hiccup who befriends a dragon named Toothless. Deep Cover (Prime Video, June 13) Prime's big summer action movie draws a starry cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard and Orlando Bloom. Howard plays an improvisation comedy teacher wondering if success will ever come her way. When an undercover cop (Sean Bean) offers her the ultimate acting challenge, she recruits two of her students (Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed) to take on London's gangland by impersonating dangerous criminals. British TV and film director Tom Kingsley ( Black Pond) is at the helm. Echo Valley (Apple TV, June 13) Apple Original Films thriller, Echo Valley, starring Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney and Domhnall Gleeson. for TV Summer 2025 A star-studded cast including Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, and our own Domhnall Gleeson, star in Apple's suspense thriller from director Michael Pearce, who previously brought us a breakthrough performance from Jessie Buckley in Beast. Moore is Kate, a woman whose life is upended by the arrival of her troubled daughter (Sweeney), hysterical and covered in somebody else's blood. Elio (cinemas, June 20) The alien-obsessed Elio discovers more than he bargained for when he's transported to an interplanetary paradise, in the latest tale from animation giants Pixar. Elio is thrilled to discover intelligent life from many sources — but when he's mistaken for planet Earth's leader, things get complicated. Yonas Kibreab as Elio is joined by a voice cast that includes Zoe Saldaña and Shirley Henderson, in a tale from the makers of previous Pixar movies Coco and Turning Red. 28 Years Later (cinemas, June 20) Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his son Spike (Alfie Williams) in Columbia Pictures' 28 YEARS LATER. Anticipation is high and plot details scarce for the third film in the post-apocalyptic horror series from director Danny Boyle. Written by Alex Garland, the film is set 28 years after the lethal 'Rage' virus first made its presence felt, causing havoc in the world. That film starred the young Cillian Murphy in a major breakthrough role and Murphy is poised to return in a forthcoming sequel to this new film, said Boyle in a US interview this week. F1 (cinemas, June 25) Brad Pitt and Kerry Condon in F1 (2025). A once-promising driver is drawn back to Formula 1 decades after an accident almost ended his career in the new film from Joseph Kosinski ( Top Gun: Maverick). Tasked with mentoring a talented young driver, the former racing star is given a shot at redemption in the film, which was shot at real racing tracks and events as part of its production. Brad Pitt and Irish actress Kerry Condon star. M3GAN 2.0 (cinemas, June 27) Two years after an AI doll caused all sorts of chaos on a murderous rampage, this sequel looks at the aftermath of those events. M3GAN's creator has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of AI. However, the tech that powered the first doll risks falling into the wrong hands. Jurassic World: Rebirth (cinemas, July 2) Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025). Picture: Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures - © Universal Studios. British filmmaker Gareth Edwards ( Monsters, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) helms the latest Jurassic dinosaur series blockbuster . Scarlett Johansson has wanted to take on a role in the series for years. She joins this film as a scientist leading a team of operatives to one of the most volatile environments on Earth. Joining her in the film are actors Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend. The Old Guard 2 (Netflix, July 2) Following up on her role as Andy, the toughest and strongest in a group of mercenaries with special powers, Charlize Theron returns to this action sequel for Netflix. This time she must face a new foe, 'the first of the immortals', who calls herself Discord, played by Uma Thurman ( Kill Bill). Superman (cinemas, July 11) One of the screen's most popular superheroes returns to our cinemas, with Superman played by US actor David Corenswet in this latest portrayal of the DC Comics character. Directed by James Gunn ( Guardians of the Galaxy), the film sees British actor Nicholas Hoult play Superman's greatest foe, Lex Luthor. Rachel Brosnahan plays the plucky news reporter at the heart of the story, Lois Lane. Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix, July 25) Almost three decades after golfer Happy Gilmore won the Tour Championship in 1996, Adam Sandler returns to play him in a new adventure for Netflix. Original cast members including Ben Stiller return to compliment a new cast that include Sandler's actress daughters Sadie and Sunny. The Naked Gun (cinemas, August 8) Liam Neeson plays Frank in The Naked Gun from Paramount Pictures. Liam Neeson aims to tickle our funny bones in a new Naked Gun movie described as, 'the single most important Naked Gun movie since the other Naked Gun movies'. He plays Frank Drebin Jr, the son of the character made famous by Leslie in the original film. Joining Neeson is a cast that includes Pamela Anderson, enjoying a career resurgence following her role in The Last Showgirl. The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix, August 28) A group of retirees turn super sleuths in The Thursday Murder Club, a comedy mystery adapted from the bestselling novel by Richard Osman. Directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone), a band of household names has been assembled for the movie, about a group of friends in a retirement home who solve murders for fun but get caught up in a real case. Coming to Netflix later this summer, they include Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley, and our very own Pierce Brosnan.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Iconic Brit TV show RETURNING after 22 years with Claudia Winkleman, Holly Willoughby or Davina McCall lined up to host
LEGENDARY TV love-match show Blind Date is returning to screens after 22 years. There had been rumours the programme — famously hosted on ITV by the late 7 Cilla Black with a Blind Date hopeful in 1989 Credit: LWT 7 Claudia Winkleman is one of the three women lined up to host the revived show Credit: Getty 7 Blind Date is returning to screens after 22 years, with Holly Willoughby also lined up to host Credit: Rex 7 Davina McCall is another top host to have been shortlisted for the role Credit: Doug Seeburg However a surprise twist will see the reboot go instead to global streaming service, Disney+. Producers want to keep the tradition of a top British female host, with a shortlist including Claudia Winkleman, Holly Willoughby and Davina McCall. The famous sliding wall separating the contestants will also return. But it is not known whether it will feature a replacement for READ MORE IN TV He has plenty of famous namesakes, including chat show host Graham Norton, ex-footballer An insider said: 'Although there's likely to be some modern twists, the bosses very much want to keep the essence of the original. 'There'll be key elements returning, including the famous sliding wall. 'Plus there will be a prize up for grabs of a wedding package, which echoes Cilla's famous gag whenever couples had enjoyed a successful date, and she used to ask, 'Do I need to buy an 'at for the wedding?'' Most read in News TV The Sun last year It is believed the deep pockets of Disney+ ensured it won out over the Beeb. Paul O'Grady pays tribute to original blind date host Cilla Black It is expected to film later this year — 40 years after Blind Date first aired — and drop in 2026. The original ran from 1985 to 2003, pulling in up to 18 million viewers. After Cilla's death in 2015, aged 72, it was briefly revived two years later on Channel 5 with Disney+ were approached for comment. 7 Could chat show host Graham Norton be in line to replace Graham Skidmore? Credit: The Mega Agency 7 Will Stephen Graham become 'our Graham'? Credit: Getty 7 Or might it be ex-footballer Graeme Sounes? Credit: Mark Ferguson
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
New Disneyland attraction SLAMMED by Walt Disney's granddaughter who calls mechanical tribute to him a ‘robotic grampa'
WALT Disney's granddaughter has slammed the entertainment giant for turning its late founder into a 'robotic grampa'. Disney is unveiling an animatronic Walt Disney for Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration this July - despite repeated protests from his granddaughter Joanna Miller. 4 Joanna Miller, the granddaughter of Walt Disney, is against the company's plan to create an animatronic of their founder Credit: Getty 4 Miller says her grandpa would have hated being digitally revived - as pictured in an illustration of Walt Disney presenting a Disneyland model Credit: Disney 4 Pictured is an illustration of an animatronic Abraham Lincoln on a stage Credit: Disney Joanna Miller 'I think I started crying,' she said, recalling the moment she first saw the figure. 'It didn't look like him to me.' Miller said she voiced her concerns early on, sending a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger when the idea was first proposed. She said she later met with Iger and the team responsible for creating the attraction, telling him: 'I strongly feel the last two minutes with the robot will do much more harm than good to Grampa's legacy. "They will remember the robot - and not the man.' Despite Iger being 'very kind" and despite his promises to protect her grandfather's legacy, she said her request that they scrap the animatronic was ultimately ignored. Miller told the LA Times she wasn't speaking on behalf of any family members except her grandfather and mother. She added that it 'pains' her to call out the very company he created. Most read in The US Sun She explained: "The idea of a Robotic Grampa to give the public a feeling of who the living man was just makes no sense. "It would be an imposter. They are dehumanizing him. People are not replaceable." Disney announces brand new theme park She also argued that her late grandfather had "told Sam McKim that he never wanted to be an animatronic", claiming that she has been provided with first-hand proof to back this up. The figure will appear in a new attraction called Walt Disney - A Magical Life, located in the park's Main Street Opera House. The proposal to show 'what it would be like to stop by Walt's office' was The company said it would be "a fitting tribute" to the man who made "significant advances with Audio-Animatronics". Walt Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Company (originally called Disney Brothers Studio) in 1923, with his brother Roy O. Disney. Walt is regarded as a pioneer of Audio-Animatronics, famously bringing Abraham Lincoln to life at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Josh D'Amaro, chair of Disney Experiences, told people at D23, the company's annual fan event: 'Creating our first Walt figure is an idea that's been whispered in the hallowed halls of imagineering for years, decades, even.' Read more on the Irish Sun He added: 'We just had to wait for innovation to catch up with our dreams. And we're finally ready.' Disneyland California, which opened on July 17, 1955, will celebrate its 70th anniversary this July. 4 Disneyland California will celebrate its 70th anniversary this July Credit: Getty
