When Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano crossed lightsabers on the fifth episode of Disney+’s Ahsoka, it was more than just a highly anticipated live-action reunion. The “Shadow Warrior” installment was also a reunion between the two actors playing the former Jedi and his Padawan. 
The chemistry between Hayden Christensen and Rosario Dawson goes way back, having first met as students at New York City’s Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in 1995. In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dawson recalls, I had just started acting… in those couple of weeks over that summer I got to meet Hayden and do a class where I learned how to really feel a drop of water hit my head and drip down my body. I learned how to go method!
Celebrating Their On-Screen Reunion
Fast forward more than two decades, their paths cross again on-screen. Dawson shares her genuine astonishment at this journey: We never could have imagined we’d be here doing this together. It is a pretty cool thing to know that we have a history that we were able to play with.
For Christensen, the feeling was mutual, describing it as really been a very special experience for us to get to reunite on this project.
The Emotional Set Experience
The emotional impact of seeing Anakin and Ahsoka together once again was palpable on set. According to Rosario Dawson, there were tears shed when the crew saw Christensen wield Anakin’s lightsaber again: I don’t want to put anyone in the crew out there, but I will say there were some tears shed when we got to see that lightsaber in his hand again. It’s pretty remarkable and very special.
The Lightsaber Duel That Captivated
A standout moment was undoubtedly their fierce lightsaber duel scene in Episode 5, reminiscent of iconic duels seen previously in the Star Wars saga. Filming these scenes wasn’t easy due to tight schedules. We actually didn’t really practice together…but that was what made it a little fun,
Dawson revealed. Christensen concurred, emphasizing the effort that went into choreographing these fights under their fight choreographer Ming Qiu.
Aftermath and Future Prospects
This reunion wasn’t just a fan service but also crucial for Ahsoka’s character development. The encounter occurred within the mystical realm known as the World Between Worlds, allowing Anakin to impart crucial life lessons to his former student before giving her the closure she desperately needed.
The Return of Hayden Christensen
Anakin’s reappearance resonated strongly with fans who had long awaited Christensen’s return to the franchise. His role not only ties back to significant events from the prequels but also bridges many elements across different Star Wars timelines.
When asked about his perspective on revisiting Anakin’s character during an inclusive sit-down with Empire, Christensen noted how passionate fans are about this character: A lot of the people who are working on these projects now grew up on the prequels and were huge fans of those films, so I think they have a special connection to these characters and to Anakin.
Potential for Season Two
The prospects for Season Two shine brightly for Anakin’s return. As Rosario teased when discussing Ahsoka’s relationship with Anakin post-battle: I will just say that as she puts on that hologram of him, you see that there’s several of them…And if Dave Filoni is listening, I hope we get to explore that more because the road ahead is not going to be easy.
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