The Star Wars prequels, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith, drew mixed reviews at the time they were released, but the hatred for them has somewhat intensified in the years since. While there's no denying that they featured some questionable performances and creative decisions, it definitely feels like the comments made about them are too harsh.
Anakin Skywalker actor Hayden Christensen is no stranger to that backlash as his work in those movies often came under fire. In fairness, he did his best with the material he had to work with, and the excitement surrounding Christensen's return in Obi-Wan Kenobi proves most fans did, in fact, embrace his take on Darth Vader during his formative years.
If you thought the Star Wars prequels were divisive, of course, it's fair to say that doesn't compare to the response to the sequels. The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker all came under fire for various reasons, but it turns out Christensen is a fan of those movies. "I really enjoyed the sequel trilogy," he admitted during an interview with Kakuchopurei. "I think it was great the way that they honoured this character."
"I really enjoyed sort of everything they’ve been up to with and it was fun for me to just go back to being a fan, and watch these stories like everybody else."
Christensen's comments echo those of many Star Wars fans, though it's interesting that he's mostly referring to the role Darth Vader played in them. There was a time that Lucasfilm planned to bring the actor back to play a Force Ghost, though The Rise of Skywalker confirmed Kylo Ren had never actually communicated with his grandfather (it was Emperor Palpatine the whole time).
Hopefully, Vader's post-Return of the Jedi status will be addressed in some manner down the line and, when those stories are told, we're hopeful that Christensen will be involved in some way.
Obi-Wan Kenobi's first two episodes premiere on Disney+ this Friday, May 27.