The Star Wars franchise has captured the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. Among the most popular is the television Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi. Starring Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, this six-episode series is a part of the Star Wars saga. It is safe to say that these characters are still fan favorites; not only did they bring the nuanced character to life, but they also delivered some really powerful lightsaber battles. However, did you know that one of Darth Vader’s signature moves—performed by Christensen—was even too difficult for McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi to master?
For those who are unaware, a lightsaber is a made-up energy sword that appears in every Star Wars film. As amazing as it is to watch, the process of creating Obi-Wan Kenobi was equally magical.
Ewan McGregor Has Never ‘Mastered’ Hayden Christensen’s Signature Lightsaber Move
In a special featurette for E! News, Obi-Wan Kenobi stars Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor discussed the history of the franchise and their experiences filming it. The latter, who played the title character of the series, shared:
“There were sort of memories of like getting dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi from all those years ago..A lot of you know the clock the hood; all of that came back to me like yesterday in a way. And the Lightsaber training that we did with Jojo was amazing; it was a great experience from the start to finish.”
While battling Christensen’s Darth Vader for Obi-Wan Kenobi, McGregor found that time was a valuable ally. Specifically, Vader’s (Christensen) “signature” lightsaber move proved to be somewhat too demanding for the Scottish actor to “master,” as he told E! News:
“Hayden developed one, which is a spin behind the back and then in front; if you saw it, you would recognize it. And I never quite mastered it back in the prequel days because it was Hayden’s signature move.”
Meanwhile, Christensen shared his experience of having to practice a lot of fighting and always training in lightsaber fights when they had free time:
“There was a lot of fighting that we needed to practice and when we had the time we always sort of go off and work on our lightsaber fights.”
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Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Hayden Christensen Discussed Lightsaber Duels
Hayden Christensen talked candidly about their epic lightsaber duel from the first season of the show. At a Star Wars Celebration panel in London (via IGN), the Canadian actor, 42, discussed what it meant to be back in the franchise and his relationship with Ewan McGregor.
Christensen remarked:
“It’s a great bit of Star Wars and a really important scene. Not just to the tragedy of the character of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader but the tragedy of the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan.”
That is why this lightsaber duel represented more than just a physical altercation; it highlighted the disintegration of a friendship between two men who regarded one another as brothers. According to Christensen, McGregor’s obvious anguish is largely responsible for the scene:
“The way it was scripted, the way the whole thing came together on the day, and so much of why that scene works is because of Ewan’s performance and the heartbreak that he experiences. You get to understand the duality [of Darth Vader] a little bit better and that struggle of identity. I’m very, very proud of that scene.”
The television show depicts Obi-Wan Kenobi’s mission to save Princess Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) from the Galactic Empire, taking place ten years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Watch Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney Plus.
