Multiple reports suggest Hayden Christensen will return to the “Star Wars” universe as Anakin Skywalker in the upcoming untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney Plus.
The rumors began at news site LRM and have since spread to multiple other entertainment blogs and websites.
Christensen has been linked to the series since its inception given that his character, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan were united in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy. The two obviously had their differences — including that Obi-Wan sliced off his apprentice’s legs (after he had become Darth Vader, of course) with a lightsaber.
These new rumors suggest there may be a role for Anakin in the new project. However, the show is supposed to take place between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope.” At that time, Anakin has already become Darth Vader. So how would Anakin would return in this new series?
One theory suggests Anakin would appear in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s memories and dreams, which he would have as he contemplates his failures to train his apprentice, according to ComicBook.com.
Another theory suggests Anakin might teach Obi-Wan how to be a Force Ghost — a tactic Obi-Wan learned during his years in exile on Tatooine.
“A big part of the Obi-Wan series that fans expect to see is how the Jedi master and former general used his time on Tatooine to master the technique of becoming a Force ghost, able to still communicate with the living even after death. That metaphysical journey open things up to all sorts of flashbacks or fantasy visions, in which Anakin Skywalker makes a reappearance,” according to ComicBook.com.
“Star Wars” rumors continue to flutter on the internet in recent weeks. One popular one centered around the sequel trilogy, as I’ve written about for Deseret.com. The rumor suggested Disney was considering erasing or ignoring the sequel trilogy from existence.
Rumors over “Star Wars” are plentiful. But that might say something about the fan community, experts recently told me.
“I think there’s a very sort of similar allure here between rumor and something like a conspiracy theory that maybe there’s a buy-in to something, like this idea of the sequels getting, you know, redacted or made noncanonical,” said Andrew Peck who studies the internet and folklore as a professor at Miami University of Ohio. “Maybe there’s a buying into this idea because people really want it to be true.”