Warning: The following contains possible spoilers for "Star Wars: Episode VIII"
As we draw ever closer to the new "Star Wars" movie this December, rumors about the continued franchise continue to grow. Today, an especially troubling report has surfaced, one that suggests a disturbance in the Force to anyone who disliked the prequel films.
Making Star Wars is reporting that Rian Johnson's "Star Wars: Episode VIII" will bring back a previous cast member from the prequel trilogy. That cast member is none other than Hayden Christensen, who plays Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" and "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." To quote Vader himself, "NOOOOOOOO!"
"A team in the U.K. are soon heading to the U.S. to begin training Hayden Christensen for a Star Wars: Episode VIII appearance of some sort," the outlet reports.
The first question that comes to mind is why? Why bring back this awful actor who helped ruin a fan-favorite character? Given his history in the Star Wars-verse, no one can find my lack of faith disturbing.
(Side Note: There has been some brief talk of a Darth Vader resurrection of sorts in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens.")
My next question is what kind of training he would need to undergo to make an appearance in "Episode VIII?" Any cameo would likely be as a Force ghost (although a flashback is a possibility) and Christensen appears to have kept himself in good shape over the years. If the scene in question is a flashback, will it be as Anakin Skywalker or Darth Vader? One would have to presume it's the former if Lucasfilm is going through all the trouble of getting Christensen back.
Additionally, the new trilogy has (wisely) done its best to distance themselves from the prequels up to this point. While the much maligned films remain official canon, J.J. Abrams has made it a point to focus a new generation of characters in the promotional work for "The Force Awakens." He's even barred any talk of midichlorians.
Making Star Wars also notes that rumors about a possible Darth Vader cameo in Gareth Edwards' "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" keep popping up. The outlet reports that there is concept art of the iconic baddie floating around and that he will be seen, in one form or the other, in the first anthology film. "Rogue One" takes place in between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope" on the Star Wars timeline so a Vader appearance makes more sense there than a Hayden Christensen cameo in "Episode VIII."
Let's all take a collective breath and hope that balance will be brought to the Force by leaving Christensen out of "Episode VIII."
