A New Anakin

With just weeks before shooting begins on Star Wars: Episode II--Whatever They're Going to Call It, E! Online has confirmed that George Lucas has finally cast Jar Jar Binks' costar, Anakin Skywalker, ending months of speculation that had every young actor from Leo to Christian Bale up for the coveted role.

And the man who would be Darth Vader? Hayden Christensen.

Lucas made good on his promise to give the part to an actor with limited experience who is not immediately associated with any other production. Christensen's a 19-year-old unknown to anyone who hasn't seen Fox Family Channel's teen rehab drama Higher Ground (read: nearly everybody), in which the actor plays a teenager who turns to drugs and misdemeanors after being seduced by his stepmother.

Christensen (a Toronto native whose favorite color is blue, according to one fan site) inked a deal Thursday that will have him playing the adolescent Anakin in the final two Star Wars prequels. An official announcement from the secrecy-minded Lucasfilm folks is forthcoming.

As E! Online's TV Scoop columnist Kimberly Potts reported weeks ago, Lucas became aware of Christensen when his agent/manager forwarded a copy of the show to the action figure mogul. This casting news comes hot on the heels of last weekend's tryout at Skywalker Ranch when Lucas invited a handful of Anakin finalists to play scenes with Natalie Portman before a new digital camera Lucas will use to shoot Episode II. Chemistry with Portman is critical because she will resume her role as Queen Amidala and become Skywalker's love interest in the highly anticipated sequel.

Among the also-rans? A source close to the Ranch says finalists included Ryan Phillippe, Roswell's Colin Hanks (yes, Tom's son) and, strangely enough, Paul Catermole, a member of Brit boy band S Club 7. Although long considered a real possibility, Jonathon Jackson (who coincidentally starred in the Y2K TV movie Trapped in a Purple Haze with Christensen) did not attend and neither did teen heartthrob Paul Walker. Leonardo DiCaprio and Bale, often rumored as candidates a long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away...), were never serious contenders to take over the Anakin role from preteen Jedi Jake Lloyd, whose wooden performance was considered one of The Phantom Menace's weak points.

In other Episode II news, Lucas has asked Ewan McGregor to grow a beard for the film, which begins shooting in Sydney at the end of June. Meanwhile, Lucas' minions Down Under are scrambling to finish building the sets. Aside from Portman and McGregor, the only other confirmed holdovers from the first prequel are Ahmed Best (Jar Jar) and Samuel L. Jackson (Jedi Mace Windu).

For the new Anakin, this means a hefty cover spread in Time magazine, a two-picture deal, a potentially lucrative merchandising contract for the requisite action figures, video games and T-shirts that will soon bear his face and, most importantly, the opportunity to retire from the business for good in a few short years.

May the Force be with him.