ENTERTAINMENT
From Issue #7
Hayden
Christensen
The Chosen One, This Boy Is
By
Lori Saunders
The
Star Wars universe was buzzing
when George Lucas announced that a Canadian, Hayden Christensen,
was chosen to be the new Anakin Skywalker in the two upcoming
prequels to his trilogy.
Almost instantaneously, the cyberworld risked being overloaded
as the online debates began to rage. Fans from all corners of
the globe logged on to analyse, philosophize, critique and scrutinize
this virtual unknown.
Can he pull it off? Should Lucas have chosen someone more experienced
for such a key role? Valid concerns, after all, we are talking
about THE Dark Lord himself, Darth Vader.
Hayden, now 21, was born in Vancouver and later moved to Toronto
where he went to school. "Star Wars has always been big
for my generation," Hayden said. "When Episode I came
out my entire high school went to the theatre for the first
showing. It was a big event, and to be a part of that now is
very special."
Hayden broke into acting in an unusual way. His sister was already
doing commercials and when she went to get a talent agent, "there
was no one to baby-sit me and I went along for the ride and
they asked me if I wanted to do some commercials and I said
sure," recalls Hayden. When he was 12 years old, Christensen
had a continuing role in the first Canadian television soap
opera, the daily hour-long Family Passions.
Since then, Hayden has been busy with both TV and movie roles.
He is probably best known (that is, if a virtual unknown can
be best known for something) for the Fox Family Channel series
Higher Ground, the Sofia Coppola film The Virgin Suicides and,
of course, more recently, Life as A House.
Casting director, Robin Gurland, is confident in the selection
of Christensen, "Hayden has those special qualities you
hope to find in an actor. He pops off the screen," she
says. "There is something so interesting going on behind
those eyes; you just want to know more. He has the vulnerability,
and he has the edginess that's needed. We really had to have
that combination, and it's rare to find an actor who can go
back and forth so well," and adds, "But, besides that,
to me, he is just an amazingly seductive and intriguing actor."
Hayden was chosen from hundreds of potential Anakins hailing
from as far away as Iceland. The field was whittled down to
442 candidates, down to 25 and then down to the final four.
Gurland said that the ultimate decision was not easy, because
all four candidates were so talented. "It's always a difficult
process, but part of it is chemistry and how someone fits within
an existing ensemble, and also how you picture his character
as the future father of already established Star Wars characters."
Perhaps
Hayden was meant for this role, after all, he says, "My
brother Tove and I have always been big fans. We used to play
some of the early video games religiously, for an hour at a
time, to make sure we became Jedi Knights."
The process culminated at the Main House at Skywalker Ranch.
"It was really a very relaxed situation," Gurland
said. "George, Natalie [Portland] and I would sit down
with whomever we were testing and just chitchat for a while.
Then the actor and Natalie would rehearse and George would give
notes. When everyone felt comfortable, we'd go to where we were
shooting, do a blocking rehearsal and then tape until George
felt he had gotten what he wanted."
Then, finally the big day. "I was just waking up and my
roommate walked in and handed me the phone and it was my agent
and manager, and they were pretty excited, so I knew as soon
as I got on the phone," Christensen said. "I walked
outside just stunned and in disbelief. I called my mom first
thing, and my roommate started blaring the Star Wars soundtrack
in the background. I didn't want to tell my mom right off, but
of course she heard the music and started flipping out,"
he laughed.
As a true Canuck, Hayden loves pizza, Our Lady Peace and played
competitive Triple A hockey. He says he also played tennis competitively
and hoped to get a scholarship to university, "but I got
a bit sidetracked with acting," he said.
Regardless of what the sceptics are saying, Hayden has already
established himself as a credible actor capable of distinguishing
himself from the crowd. Having been chosen for the coveted role
of Anakin Skywalker, Hayden has now been propelled into the
stars - and it is where he will most likely remain.
FROM
THE CHATROOMS:
This
[Hayden] is a great choice. If it was someone we knew too well
like Leo DiCaprio, then you wouldn't be seeing Anakin, you would
be seeing Leo playing Anakin. Just like Mark Hamil WAS Luke
Skywalker, Hayden will BE Anakin.
-JadeFire
You
may have already decided you'll love Hayden as Anakin and others
may have decided they'll hate him. I personally will withhold
judgement till I see him in action.
-PetuniaTheOgre
The
ONLY reason Lucas wants unknowns is because name actors want
a big salary and/or a piece of the profits.
-JadeFire
I
don't believe casting a big name actor brings baggage to their
role. Back during the original trilogy, Harrison Ford was playing
Han Solo and Indiana Jones at the same time. Nobody complained
about that.
-Go_Mer_Tonic
For me casting a proven actor (a proven movie actor) would have
made more sense cuz you know what you're getting. Basically
you know whether or not they have the movie acting skills to
portray the role and you know they have big screen acting experience.
-CameronFan
I
swore a long time ago I would not go see Episode II if Lucas
cast a Canadian ... If this kid is really gonna be Anakin, then
please someone come to DC and kill me.
-Daffybastard
This
kid is going to kick ass as Anakin! His performance [in Life
As a House] runs the gamut from heartbreaking vulnerability
to brooding sullenness to tempestuous anger with nimbleness
and aplomb. He displayed all the qualities that Anakin is going
to need. Hayden will deliver the goods.
-"Charlie Hodge"
I think that Lucas did the right thing by casting an unknown.
No preconceived notions going in.
-Agentcooper
Darth
Vader: (c) Lucasfilm LTD. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Hayden6
and Hayden1 (c)New Line Cinema/S. Danelian. Photo by Stephen
Danelian.
Haydenstarwars
© Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Photo by
Lisa Tomasetti.
