Star Wars Greatest Jedi Finally Returns

By Jason Collins | Updated

Star Wars’ greatest Jedi finally made a return in the latest episode of Ahsoka, signaling a major development for the show and the Star Wars franchise as a whole. For those who haven’t seen the latest episode, spoiler alert: we’re talking about Anakin Skywalker.

Anakin Skywalker, portrayed by Hayden Christensen yet again, made a surprise cameo appearance towards the ending of Ahsoka episode 4, setting up some major developments for the show’s remaining episodes and the entire Star Wars universe.

ahsoka anakin
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka

This cameo confirms previous long-running speculations about Hayden Christensen’s casting, which isn’t all that surprising, actually, considering that Ahsoka was Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan.

The ending of episode 4 basically follows Ahsoka’s defeat at the hands of Baylan Skoll, after which the eponymous Star Wars hero wakes up on a plane, being called by her old Jedi Master Anakin. According to Star Wars fans, enthusiasts, and connoisseurs, this is Ahsoka’s biggest moment in the series thus far.

Ahsoka and Anakin’s master-apprentice relationship was a significant part of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars storyline, so we can expect more impactful things to appear now that Anakin has entered the stage.

Hayden Christensen makes a cameo as Anakin Skywalker in the most recent episode of Ahsoka.

But what does all of this mean for the Ahsoka series on a broader scale? Sure, we can expect something epic to occur, but what? Well, judging by the situation in which Ahsoka found herself, Anakin’s appearance couldn’t have occurred at a better time.

The two were inseparable before she left the Jedi Order, and Anakin turned to the dark side. Considering that she hasn’t completed her training, and he didn’t impart his entire knowledge to her, perhaps now is the time for the final lesson.

As for why Anakin appeared right in this Star Wars series episode, well, it’s entirely possible that he’s the antithesis to Ahsoka’s actions and attitude that risk her relationship with her own apprentice, Sabine Wren. Hopefully he can help his former padawan rebuild the connection between her and Sabine so that she might be able to save her own student and properly train her.

Christensen’s appearance in Ahsoka required some CGI de-aging since the actor is now 42 years old, playing a 20-year-old Anakin Skywalker.

hayden christensen
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker in Obi-Wan Kenobi

In most likelihood, this means the Anakin we see at the end of the most recent episode of Ahsoka is a Force Ghost, a form we see he’s been able to acquire in the afterlife at the end of 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

As for the technical aspects of Anakin’s return to the Star Wars expanded universe, Hayden Christense’s appearance as Anakin was confirmed by Ahsoka’s credits roll as well, marking the actor’s latest return to Star Wars following his legendary appearance in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

Similar to that particular show, Christensen’s appearance in Ahsoka required some CGI de-aging since the actor is now 42 years old, playing a 20-year-old Anakin Skywalker. The production studio did something similar for Obi-Wan, though to a lesser extent.

Ahsoka takes place somewhere between 10 and 15 years after the events of the first Star Wars trilogy, meaning that Anakin has been dead for over a decade when he shows up in the series.

In most likelihood, this means the Anakin we see at the end of the most recent episode of Ahsoka is a Force Ghost, a form we see he’s been able to acquire in the afterlife at the end of 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

Subscribe For

Star Wars News

Expect a confirmation email if you subscribe!