Hayden Christensen’s portrayal of Anakin remains among the most widely ridiculed elements of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, but much like the movies he was in, the star has his fans and defenders. So, as unlikely as it sounds that the actor will have a role in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, the speculation that unfolded on this recent Reddit thread is understandable, if not all that plausible.
It’s been a rumor for some time now that next year’s trilogy-closer is set to bring in elements from the prequels, but so far, the evidence has yet to yield anything specific on the matter. However, with Christensen scheduled for an appearance at Rhode Island Comic Con in a couple of weeks, some fans have suggested that the star is slowly easing his way back into the scene to prepare viewers for his appearance in J.J. Abrams’ next film. This would most likely be little more than a cameo though, perhaps in flashback or in Force Ghost form.
Given the evidence available, this prediction sounds like a real stretch. And while you could argue that The Last Jedi set some precedence with its Yoda appearance, it’s worth noting that your average filmgoer doesn’t look back on Christensen’s performance so fondly, raising the question of whether this is one nostalgia buzz that Abrams would really consider aiming for. As one Reddit user points out, this is still the same director who briefly considered featuring the bones of Jar Jar Binks as an Easter Egg in The Force Awakens, so clearly this isn’t the most passionate of prequel-defenders we’re dealing with here.
All the same, we’ll see what blasts from the past Star Wars: Episode IX has lined up when the film hits theaters on December 20th, 2019.