With the upcoming premiere of The Acolyte, Star Wars fans have been given a brand new narrative that sheds light on the other side of the epic franchise. Set to delve into the rise of The Sith order, the series’ events take place more than a century before those of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and is only one of the multiple exciting new projects that Lucasverse has on offer.
However, even decades after Darth Vader was first unmasked to reveal that it was Anakin Skywalker all along, the prequel series’ protagonist continues to be one of the most popular and widely loved in the series. Fans have long clamored for a standalone film that may delve into the transformation of the powerful Jedi into the Sith lord, and one of them has simply gone a few steps further.
A fan-made trailer starring Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader has been doing the rounds on YouTube, and attempts to tell a story that fans have consistently wondered about.
Hayden Christensen stars in fan-made trailer for Darth Vader: A Star Wars Story
Hayden Christensen took up the role of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, and was also included in an updated DVD box set version of Return of the Jedi. He has also appeared in multiple TV iterations since then, and voiced the character in The Rise of Skywalker.
Regardless, Christensen sees a return in the fan-made trailer which delves into the events that led to his transformation into Darth Vader. The trailer opens with his character making a sinister walk towards the screen, as viewers can hear Palpatine and Padme’s voices in the background. While Padme claims that Anakin has embarked on a path she cannot follow, the former’s voice bellows at Anakin Skywalker:
Rise! Lord Vader.
Viewers then hear Darth Vader explaining how Anakin Skywalker in itself was a ‘failure,’
Anakin Skywalker was a failure. I am the darkness.
One can then hear Chancellor Palpatine once again, who explains to Vader that he must use his anger to crush his enemies. A thrilling watch indeed, Darth Vader is seen doing exactly that, as he brings about the war against the Jedi Order and becomes a powerful Sith Lord.
The Rise of Darth Vader was previously delved into in The Clone Wars
Back in 2008, it was Matt Lanter who voiced the character of Darth Vader in The Clone Wars. The animated series, which was set between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, gave fans an insight into how Anakin Skywalker initially became more vulnerable to the influence of the Sith.
Foreshadowing his transformation into Vader, the series saw him use the Dark Force multiple times, and concluded with the official death of Anakin Skywalker. Initially lured towards the Dark Force due to a vision in which he sees Padme dying in childbirth, Anakin is seen slowly losing faith in The Jedi Order, a transformation which happens off-screen and is complete by the time Vader returns in Revenge of the Sith.
Still, there is little doubt that Darth Vader continues to be one of the most intriguing characters in the universe, and has plenty of scope for a standalone movie that delves into the initial transformation.
Of course, nothing is confirmed as of now, and fans can watch all the Star Wars TV series and movies on Disney+.
