If you’ve watched the original Star Wars trilogy, you’ll remember the iconic scene where the Force ghosts of Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Anakin appear.
Sebastian Shaw portrayed the older Anakin in that moment. However, in the prequel trilogy, George Lucas made a significant alteration: he replaced Shaw’s Force ghost with Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin.
But why did Lucas make this adjustment? What purpose did it serve?
If you’re curious, let’s dive into the intriguing reasons behind this change.
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The Original Force Ghost Scene
In the 1983 version of “Return of the Jedi,” Anakin Skywalker’s Force ghost appeared as an older man, portrayed by actor Sebastian Shaw.
This pivotal moment takes place during the celebration on Endor following the Empire’s defeat.
Fans embraced this portrayal because it aligned with the idea that Anakin had redeemed himself by saving his son, Luke Skywalker.
Sebastian Shaw’s portrayal of Anakin’s Force ghost was poignant. Standing alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Sir Alec Guinness) and Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz), their appearances reflected how they looked at the time of their deaths.
Anakin, now redeemed, appeared as the older version of himself, emphasizing his transformation from Darth Vader back to the Jedi Knight he once was.
However, in the 2004 special edition, George Lucas made a significant change. He replaced Sebastian Shaw’s Force ghost with Hayden Christensen, the actor who portrayed Anakin in the prequel trilogy.
This alteration sparked both curiosity and controversy among fans.
Lucas’s Decision to Change and The Connection Between Prequel and Original Star Wars
George Lucas aimed for continuity between the prequel trilogy (Episodes I-III) and the original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI).
By using Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Anakin in the prequels, Lucas reinforced the idea that Anakin’s spirit transcended time.
This connection bridged Anakin’s past as a Jedi Knight with his later fall to the dark side as Darth Vader.
Anakin’s metaphorical death occurred when he became Darth Vader. His transformation from Jedi to Sith was pivotal.
By showing Hayden Christensen as the Force ghost, Lucas emphasized that Anakin’s true self was the heroic Jedi who ultimately saved his son, Luke Skywalker.
In a revealing interview, George Lucas and Hayden Christensen discussed Anakin’s youthful appearance as a Force ghost.
Lucas explained that Anakin metaphorically died after succumbing to the dark side. This insight sheds light on how Force ghosts operate. When Anakin redeemed himself, his inner essence reverted to its pre-fall state.
Lucas believed that replacing the original Anakin Force Ghost with Hayden Christensen completed the narrative circle. It connected the prequels and the original trilogy, reinforcing Anakin’s legacy.
Hayden’s Surprise
In an interview on Moviefone, George Lucas and Hayden Christensen answered fan questions. During this conversation, Hayden was asked how he felt when he first saw himself edited into the end of “Return of the Jedi.”
His response was, “The opportunity to see myself standing next to Alec Guinness was neat for me. It allowed me to be part of the original trilogy, and I feel more embedded in this saga, which I really liked.”
You can watch the interview snippet here.
Interestingly, during the filming of “Revenge of the Sith,” Hayden Christensen was surprised when he saw himself as Anakin’s Force ghost. George Lucas had Hayden film the scene without revealing its purpose.
Later, Hayden expressed that if he had known the context, he would have acted differently. His surprise echoed that of fans who suddenly saw the young Anakin standing alongside Obi-Wan and Yoda in the film!