May 12th, 2000
Lucas Ends Six-Month Search for Anakin
The Star Wars ship is launching again. Filming on Episode II begins next month in Australia, and previously unknown actor Hayden Christensen is definitely, officially, on board as the new Anakin.
Today, Lucasfilm confirmed the news that Christensen, a 19-year-old Canadian actor, has been selected as the new Anakin Skywalker in the next two installments of the Star Wars saga.
Word leaked out earlier that George Lucas had zeroed in on Christensen after a crucial round of screen tests a few weeks ago. Despite an article in Variety and confirmation from Christensen's agent, the Lucas camp was reluctant to make an official announcement until, apparently, the ink was dry on the contracts binding Christensen to a two-film deal.
The actor, whose scant credits include a regular role on the cable TV series Higher Ground and the recent TV movie Purple Haze, said the first person he called with the news was, natch, his mom.
"I didn't want to tell my mom right off," the new celebrity says on the official Star Wars site (www.starwars.com), but since his roommate had started blaring the Star Wars soundtrack, "of course she heard the music and started flipping out," says the man-who-will-be-Vader.
From Fandom to Filmdom
Christensen admits that the stratospheric implication of the decision hasn't quite hit him yet. "It was only about a week ago that it started to hit me that I was testing for Anakin … Darth Vader! It's just been sort of hard to grasp," he says.
Sure, he's got the part, but is he also a fan of the mega-successful sci-fi franchise? You betcha.
"Star Wars has always been big for my generation," he says — as, we'd like to point out, the saga has been for every generation since 1977. He also says that, along with his entire high school, he was at the theater for the first screening of Episode I, and that he and his brother Tove played the early Star Wars video games "religiously … to make sure we became Jedi Knights." He says that being part of the saga is "very special."
'An Amazingly Seductive and Intriguing Actor'
Lucas says of his hand-picked Anakin candidate, "He is very talented, has a great command of his craft, and I know that he has the physical and emotional attributes to play Anakin Skywalker at perhaps the most complex stage of Anakin's life."
Producer Rick McCallum also cites Hayden's "great intensity" and says, "I know we're in for some really great scenes between Natalie Portman and Hayden."
Casting Director Robin Gurland, who oversaw the six-month search for the right Anakin, says that Christensen "pops off the screen." She says that he possesses the two qualities key to the pivotal character: vulnerability and edginess. Also, at 6 feet 1 inch, he's convincing as the future Darth Vader we know from the first three films, as embodied by actor David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones.
Gurland adds, "There is something so interesting going on behind those eyes; you just want to know more. … He is just an amazingly seductive and intriguing actor."
Christensen Beat Out Hundreds of Candidates
Gurland combed through 442 candidates out of hundreds of submissions, some from as far away as Iceland. From that far-flung pool, Lucas reviewed tapes of the 25 finalists. The director then met with the final four potential Anakins, where Christensen's chemistry with Portman helped him win the final round of screen tests.
Hayden was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, before his family relocated to Toronto. The youngster got his first acting gig when his older sister's talent agent roped him into doing commercials too.
"I love acting because it's a bit of an escape," he said. "It gives you the ability to reinvent yourself. They say that acting is the shy man's revenge."
Better get over your shyness, Hayden. Anonymity is a thing of the past.
Sounding like he's starting to get into the spirit, Christensen says that he's excited to work with Portman and Ewan McGregor, "whom I've really admired." But what's the best part? "I get to use lightsabers … and the Force!"
