Actor Hayden Christensen will return to life as Anakin Skywlker / Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and talked about what it was like to shoot in the Sith Lord’s suit
Darth Vader is one of the most recognizable characters in the Star Wars franchise and in movie history. So much so that one architect even used his image as a gargoyle on the Washington National Cathedral. Vader, played by the late David Prowse, with the commanding voice of James Earl Jones, made his first appearance in Star Wars: A New Hopecaptivating the public from the beginning.
Hayden Christensen played Anakin Skywalker in the prequels Attack of the clones Y Revenge of the Sith. Both films explore Anakin’s slow descent into the Dark Side of the Force. After succumbing to the temptations of the Dark Side for fear of losing the love of his life. He betrays the Jedi order, murders countless young men in the Temple, engages his mentor and friend Obi-Wan in an epic lightsaber duel, only to end up dismembered and burned. Left to die, Anakin is rescued by his new mentor, Emperor Palpatine.
Hayden Christensen’s final scene in the prequels shows Anakin wearing the iconic Darth Vader costume. An intimidating outfit that is medically necessary for his survival. Though it seemed like this would be the last time audiences would see Christensen in the Sith Lord’s costume. The new Obi-Wan series opened the door for his return.
In an interview with TimeOutthe actor revealed that the Vader suit he used to film Obi-Wan Kenobi has components that work to maintain his real-life health.
“It’s so hot and so heavy! But you know? There’s a bottom layer on Vader’s suit that has a coolant in it, so when you’re not working, you sit down and plug into this device that circulates the coolant and helps you. you get cold And the need for that mechanical element makes you feel even more like the character.”
The sheer weight of the costume, coupled with the fact that it is fully enclosed and black, makes shooting under the heat of set lighting extremely difficult. Fortunately, the cooling system that was installed in the suit to keep Christensen from getting too hot is a gesture that the actor appreciated.
Other interpreters of the saga such as Anthony Daniels have complained about the high temperatures and the restrictive movements caused by their costumes. Fortunately. Current cast members of the franchise, like those of Obi-Wan Kenobi, may enjoy a reprieve from some of the previous filming loads due to technological advances. Christensen is now able to experience the new comforts while also having a deeper connection to his character which he said was really exciting to explore going from Anakin to Vader.
“That was part of what was really exciting about this, to really be able to explore Darth Vader. Obviously in the prequels I was Anakin Skywalker and I was able to show that transition, but I didn’t spend a lot of time in the suit. So to go back and revisit the character at this point in the timeline was huge.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on Disney + on May 27. If you do not have your subscription to the streaming channel You can sign up at this link.