Hayden Chistensen surprises fans at Galaxy’s Edge, builds blue lightsaber

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

If you've ever perused social media before (Hell if you've ever logged on to the Internet) you know that STAR WARS fans can be passionate. Unfortunately, there's also a high degree of vitriol associated with the franchise. Whether it's the umpteenth debate about the quality of THE LAST JEDI, whether or not Han shot first, or Jabba the Hutt's Fortnite abilities, the complaints are legion. Firmly entrenched in these heated arguments is one Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker in STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES and STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH. The actor has been severely criticized for his portrayal of the man who would become Darth Vader, with people calling his performance wooden and charmless.

Well in the midst of all the angry noise that too often permeates STAR WARS conversations, it's nice to report stories like this. Recently, Hayden Christensen surprised fans by visiting Disney's newest Disneyland attraction, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The actor posed in front of and inside the life-size Millennium Falcon and interacted with a number of fans. Christensen also performed a compassionate act worthy of a Jedi by crafting a blue lightsaber and gifting it to a young girl. Awww what a guy!

The harsh criticism Christensen experienced both during and after the prequel saga caused him to shy away from the franchise for many years. However, things began to thaw in recent times as Christensen returned for Star Wars Celebration in 2017 and also again this year. Now maybe this is a stretch, but could this be an indication that Christensen is open to returning to the space opera franchise? Disney+ is currently ramping up efforts for their upcoming Obi-Wan series starring Ewan McGregor, so there's a chance the actor might appear if only in flashback scenes.

Either way it's heartening to see Christensen embracing his legacy and the fans with gestures like this. It's a lesson to all of us STAR WARS fans – myself included – to tone down the angry rhetoric and embrace the joy that is STAR WARS. If someone as ridiculed as Hayden Christensen can be this magnanimous, the least the rest of us can do is holster the snark blaster once in awhile.

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER blasts into movie theaters December 20.