Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Hayden Christensen Discusses Bulking Up to Play Darth Vader Again

Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Hayden Christensen revealed the extent of physical preparation he put in to getting ready to play Darth Vader again.

In an interview in the most recent issue of Total Film, Christensen discussed the making of the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series, as well as how much of his job was in the gym rather than on set. “Most of my work on this project was in preparation,” Christensen said. “The physical preparation was intense. I had to put on a decent amount of weight and size to fill up the suit.” The actor also gave audiences a hint that his physical preparation wasn’t just for the suit. When asked about the fight scenes in the series, Christensen remarked that “We’re more in line with the prequels than we are with how the fights are in the original trilogy. These characters have aged, but not that much yet.”

Apart from bulking up to reprise his role as Darth Vader, Christensen also discussed what fans can expect to see from the character once Obi-Wan Kenobi arrives on the small screen. The actor explained, “He’s a very complex character, and there’s an inherent struggle of identity that is always present – there’s inner conflict.” He expounded on that conflict, saying, “He’s always going to be struggling with the loss of Padme. He’s got Anakin buried deep down inside. There always has to be that element of Anakin there, because he does eventually find redemption in the end – through the love of his son, no less.”