Although he had acting experience prior to it, Hayden Christensen is perhaps best known for his depiction of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. I think that it it is safe to say that he will be remembered for that role for quite some time, especially with the increasing popularity of the science fiction series. Did Hayden Christensen retire from acting altogether following his work with the franchise? In this article, I’m going to answer that key question and many more. I’ll be discussing how Hayden was able to rise to such a prominent film role, while obviously making sure to let you all know what he has been doing with his career in more recent years.
Hayden Christensen’s Early Life and Career
Between 1995 and 1999, Hayden kept himself very busy with these kinds of roles. He appeared in movies like The Virgin Suicides and Harrison Bergeron, while also appearing in television shows like Forever Knight, Goosebumps, and Are You Afraid of the Dark?. He was actually able to attract some decent national attention in 2002, for his depiction of the character Scott Barringer in the show Higher Ground. The program was admittedly short lived, but Hayden’s portrayal of a sexually abused young man genuinely impressed and surprised a lot of people. He achieved further critical acclaimed in 2001, when he played another misunderstood teenager in the more niche film Life as a House, where he worked alongside the likes of Kevin Kline and Jena Malone. The performance earned him a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
Hayden Christensen in Star Wars
The role of Anakin Skywalker was aggressively cast, and if you take a closer look at Hayden’s prior acting experience, it made a lot of sense that he was chosen. As someone who would become Darth Vader, it was crucial that the person chosen to play Anakin was capable of running both hot and cold. Christensen was probably typecast into that angsty teenager role during his early career, so this was a natural transition. He first appeared in the role in 2002, with the release of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Hayden’s performance received mixed critical reception, with some feeling as if his delivery was often flat or stiff. Despite that opinion, he also received several Saturn Award and Teen Choice Award nominations for his work in the film.
With that strange and conflicting experience behind him, Hayden returned to acting in 2006, with a role in the small film Factory Girl. Between 2005 and 2010, he appeared in many movies, including Awake, Jumper, New York, I Love You, Takers, Virgin Territory, and a lot more. Jumper was the largest success out of this group, making a lot of money at the box office despite unfavorable reviews from critics. After 2010, Hayden took a hiatus from all of it before announcing that he was creating his own production company in 2013, entitled Glacier Films. Glacier Films released their first movie American Heist in 2014, which starred Christensen. That same year, he appeared in the movie Outcast alongside Nicholas Cage. That was three years ago, though. What is Hayden Christensen doing in 2017?
What’s Hayden Christensen Doing Now in 2018 – Recent Updates
Although he may not be gracing magazine covers like he used to, Hayden Christensen is still very much a part of the filmmaking industry. In 2015, he played the role of Don Piper in the Christian film 90 Minutes in Heaven. Currently, he is filming the movie First Kill, which is an action movie that is slated for a 2017 release. First Kill is being directed by Steven C. Miller, and Bruce Willis is set to co-star. Whether you loved or hated his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker, Hayden Christensen has not allowed his controversial work in a popular franchise to slow his career down. It is likely that he will continue to appear in many films in the years to come.
I thought HC was great in the Star Wars movies. He had to work with terrible dialogue. With better writing, people would have appreciated him a lot more.
He did so well with what he had in star wars. If people watched his other movies like Shattered Glass they would realise what an incredible actor he is.