Dave Filoni’s acclaimed Ahsoka arguably witnesses some of the most thrilling lightsaber duels since George Lucas’ prequels, as it witnesses Hayden Christensen back as Anakin Skywalker. Over two decades after making his Star Wars debut back in Episode II – Attack of the Clones, the actor reprised his iconic part in the flashback scenes in the Disney Plus show.
Although it has been a while since the actor got to brush up on his skills in handling the lightsaber, he still hasn’t lost his touch, even being deemed the best to ever do it by Filoni.
Hayden Christensen’s Skills With the Lightsaber Are Far From Rusty
Ever since meeting Hayden Christensen at a past Star Wars Celebration, Dave Filoni explained that he formed an “instant connection” with the Star Wars icon and was fixated on working with him. The Clone Wars director finally got to join forces with Christensen and got to experience his impeccable skills with the lightsaber first-hand on the sets of Ahsoka. Per the director, his lightsaber skills are anything but rusty, as he showered Hayden Christensen’s lightsaber skills with laudation. Speaking with EW, the director said the two “really understood each other”, following their past experiences.
“His lightsaber skills are just insane. I mean, he is the Chosen One. There is no doubt.” He said, “It was kind of amazing to have somebody who had this experience, too, who would know the things I was talking about related to Anakin and how George saw him,” Filoni says. “We really understood each other and the language of it.”
This doesn’t come as a surprise to fans, who were already assured of this since witnessing the actor back in the prequels, with most deeming him the most skilled among all the actors who’ve held the lightsaber.
Seeing Hayden Christensen and Ariana Greenblatt Together Was Like a Clone Wars Episode Coming to Life Said Filoni
Further reflecting on his time with Hayden Christensen, Dave Filoni expressed that one of his favorite things to do on sets was watching the duo of Christensen and Ariana Greenblatt. Filoni expressed that witnessing the two together in their costumes was like watching an episode of The Clone Wars coming to life.
“It gave me pause just to stand there and look at him in the costume, standing next to Ariana,” he said. “Because in my mind, it really is no different. No matter what the medium is, the image is always Anakin with Ahsoka — that older brother, younger sister dynamic.”
While Mandalorian failed to deliver earlier this year, Ahsoka has pulled back the IP in the right direction, becoming one of the best Star Wars shows under the Disney regime.
Ahsoka is available to stream on Disney Plus.
