r/StarWars • u/Xenezort_ • Dec 13 '20

In only 2 years, Hayden Christensen will be the same age as Darth Vader in A New Hope. Meta

Hayden Christensen was born in 1981, so he's 39 now. Anakin Skywalker was born in 41 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin, a.k.a. A New Hope). I just thought that's crazy.

30.4k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

View all comments

961

u/codyd91 Dec 13 '20

Much like Ian McDiarmid aging up to play Senator Palpatine. In the immortal words of the almighty Emperor: Gooooooood.

501

u/Xenezort_ Dec 13 '20

Yes Ian McDiarmid was the perfect age in the prequels.

154

u/Dylpooh Dec 13 '20

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one!

5

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20 edited Dec 19 '20

[deleted]

10

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20

When something doesn't seem to make sense in this thread, just assume it's a quote from one of the prequels.

-2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20 edited Dec 19 '20

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20

Nooooooooooooooooooo!

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20

[deleted]

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '20 edited Dec 19 '20

[deleted]

2

u/ObsiArmyBest Dec 14 '20

Maybe pick up a dictionary?

0

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '20 edited Dec 19 '20

[deleted]

2

u/ObsiArmyBest Dec 14 '20

Yes, you idiot. They didn't plan on making the prequels 16 years ago.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '20 edited Dec 19 '20

[deleted]

→ More replies

21

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20 edited Dec 19 '20

[deleted]

2

u/Oraukk Dec 14 '20

What do you mean?

16

u/inspirius Dec 13 '20

Makes you wonder if anyone else has ever played a younger version of a character after such a long time.

3

u/eolson3 Dec 14 '20

Sam Jackson in Captain Marvel?

4

u/LesterBePiercin Dec 14 '20

I think he means without de-ageing CGI. That was also not a long time.

3

u/drewp317 Dec 14 '20

Orlando bloom played a 70ish year younger legolas in the hobbit more than ten years after being in lotr

46

u/mr10123 Dec 13 '20

Speaking of, is there any chance McDiarmid is in any of these upcoming series? I know he's earned a wonderful retirement but the man has talent and his role in the sequels didn't scratch the itch.

15

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '20

[deleted]

8

u/mr10123 Dec 14 '20 edited Dec 14 '20

Great, I'm actually halfway through season 4. No worries I don't count that as a spoiler ;)

Sad noises tho on our fave blind fella

2

u/arawagco Dec 14 '20

Very sad noises.

2

u/mr10123 Dec 14 '20

He's just a nice guy. I understand many appreciate his last episode I've been stalling because for me he's still alive D:

2

u/elissass Dec 14 '20

You can hear him in the Bad Batch trailer

1

u/mr10123 Dec 14 '20

I was excited to hear it but I think it's a voice line taken directly from the movie (which is awesome, but I want more!!)

1

u/elissass Dec 14 '20

Hmm yeah makes sense. And yes, me too

27

u/sprchrgddc5 Dec 13 '20

Sucks we couldn’t cast a 117 year old Ian McDiarmid for a ROS.

3

u/BatmanNoPrep Dec 14 '20

Not sure even that amount of experience would save it. I rewatched Phantom Menace and Rise of Skywalker to see which one holds up better. I’d take that pod racing clustermess ten times out of ten

3

u/Bebopo90 Luke Skywalker Dec 14 '20

Episode 1 isn't a bad movie at all, just strikingly average in a lot of ways. It does have its moments, though, (anything involving Maul/pod racing) and its world building is excellent. The story makes sense, and there are no enormous, glaring plot holes.

RoS has mediocre action, a nonsense story, plot holes everywhere, and has a cringe- worthy amount of fan service. It's genuinely one of the worst movies I've ever paid to see. You'd have to pay me to get me to watch it again.

2

u/99problemsfromgirls Dec 14 '20

I'm wondering why they chose him at the time to play Darth sidious. At the age of 37 he was supposed to play an aged man? It worked out nicely for the prequels, but seems like a strange choice.

2

u/Oraukk Dec 14 '20

It's because he was a great actor giving a great performance with a lot of charisma and energy.

1

u/DrMcNards Dec 14 '20

They knew he would be in a bunch of makeup anyway, and they liked his performance