‘Star Wars: Episode 8’ Rumor: Prequel Actor Spotted On Set To Reprise Important Role
If the latest reports are anything to go by, fans will get to see once more an extremely important character in the long-running Star Wars saga make a comeback in Star Wars: Episode 8 – The Last Jedi.
According to Star Wars watcher and YouTuber Mike Zeroh, actor Hayden Christensen, who played the role of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, was “just recently” spotted at Pinewood Studios.
The studio is one of the main filming locations for Star Wars: Episode 8 and the sighting has many wondering what Christensen was doing there. Zeroh is under the impression that he has a small role in The Last Jedi and came in to film it. As to what part that could be, the most logical the Star Wars analyst could think of is as a Force ghost.
Such report is in the same vein as the purported involvement of Frank Oz, the voice of Yoda, in Star Wars: Episode 8. There have also been reports of the voice actor visiting the set last year.
When asked early this year by Variety about Yoda’s return to the new Star Wars saga, he said that he was prohibited from talking about it. Fans put two and two together, understanding that Oz coming in to set and refusing to talk about his possible involvement meant that the beloved character is indeed making his way back the galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: Episode 8 – The Last Jedi.
It is expected the green Jedi will appear as a Force ghost. Although it is yet to be confirmed, Yoda’s inclusion in the film is already considered a fact, which adds weight to the possibility that Anakin will be back too.
Also, Christensen’s appearance at the Star Wars Celebration had many fans thinking that it was also a tease to his impending return to the franchise in the big screen.
While he had a perfectly good reason to show up being it was the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, many believe that there is more to it considering the timing of it. The actor has never appeared in the annual convention before this year and has, for the most part, shied away from anything involving the mega franchise after working on the prequels.
Him reprising his role as Anakin in Star Wars: Episode 8 was also originally planned to take place in Star Wars: Episode 7 – The Force Awakens, but was ultimately scrapped. However, if the reports are to be believed, the reappearance is being saved for the next movie instead.
As per many speculations, Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker and will help his son Luke (Mark Hamill) in training the fledgling Jedi, Rey (Daisy Ridley).
A recent leak shared on 4chan and obtained by Cosmic Book News even claimed that Anakin would take the form of a sea monster in Star Wars: Episode 8 that Rey has to defeat as part of her training.
Before Christensen’s visit at Pinewood Studios, there have already been a lot of talks with regards to this sea monster, which will be the subject of one of the tests that Luke will put Rey through in Star Wars: Episode 8.
Unfortunately, it was also suggested that in the new Star Wars mythology, Force ghosts can also be killed or destroyed and that of Anakin might suffer such tragic fate in Star Wars: Episode 8.
If this is anything to go by, fans will have a reason to worry about Anakin as they might watch him die once again in Star Wars: Episode 8. Whether or not this will sit well with them is unclear at the moment although some have already been expressing their dismay due to how the character is being handled in the new films and how he is being lost in all the new material.
As fans know, his lightsaber will be marketed as Rey’s own for Star Wars: Episode 8. It will definitely break a lot of fans’ hearts if Anakin dies even in his Force ghost form. Additionally, it will close the doors on another possible return.
Star Wars: Episode 8 – The Last Jedi hits cinemas December 15.
[Featured Image by Disney and Lucasfilm]
