Obi-Wan Kenobi star Hayden Christensen talks teaming back up with Ewan McGregor and pulling the Vader suit on

Since the launch of Disney+, Star Wars fans have been treated to wildly successful shows such as The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch and The Book Of Boba Fett.

But for several years, fans were screaming one name, almost in unison – Obi-Wan.

Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of the bearded Jedi master in the Star Wars prequels in the early noughties was much loved, with questions left over what happened to him between Revenge Of The Sith (Episode III) in 2005, and A New Hope (Episode IV) in 1977, after his, let’s say disagreement, with Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), who later becomes Darth Vader.

But now, McGregor and Christensen are both back as galactic frenemies in the latest show in the Star Wars universe, the aptly named Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Speaking to Sky News’ Backstage podcast, Christensen said getting the call to come back to work as the Jedi-turned-Sith lord was “thrilling”.

“I was so excited to get that call.

“I’d heard whispers of this project for a little bit and then to get to be invited to be a part of it was was thrilling for me.”

He added: “The whole experience was rather surreal and very emotional for me.

“And getting to reunite with Ewan was just amazing. Seeing him as Obi-Wan again was quite the sight.”

Back in 2005 at the end of Revenge Of The Sith, we only see Christensen in the Vader suit for a brief period (David Prowse played him in the original trilogy, with the voice of James Earl Jones), but this time round, the 41-year-old gets to wear the suit for real – something he said he relished.

“Putting the suit back on for the first time was just an incredible sensation,” he explained.

“It brought up a lot of feelings for me and I was able to sort of apply that to the work that I had to do.

“I was really excited about was just getting to explore the character at this point in his life – and it’s a period of time that hasn’t been explored yet.”

But what’s Vader’s role in all of this?

“He’s a very complex character,” Christensen admits.

“There’s a lot going on under the surface. There’s still a lot of inner conflict and there’s a sort of a struggle of self-identity that he’s trying to reconcile.

“A big part of that has to do with… his relationship with Obi-Wan and his relationship with the Jedi order at large. So as he goes on his missions to hunt down remaining Jedi to kill them, it’s very personal for him.”

No press preview episodes have yet been released for the show, but the trailer promises a big story – with lightsabers wielded, stormtroopers marching and bounty hunters dispatched, as well as a small appearance from what appears to be a very young Luke Skywalker.

We also see brand new characters in Obi-Wan Kenobi – namely Reva, A.K.A The Third Sister, played by Moses Ingram.

A nod to the show Star Wars Rebels and the Fallen Order video game, the Sisters are high inquisitors used by Darth Vader to find his enemies.

Ingram told Sky News that walking into the Star Wars universe as a baddie was “fun”.

“It’s really fun. And to be bad, but to have power behind your badness, is crazy.

“The things that we got to do… was super cool.”

Cast and crew alike are keeping the storyline under tight wraps for now, so when pressed, both Christensen and Ingram didn’t give much away.

Ingram said the show is a “dope ride” and that it’s “cool that people are going to get to come back to it every week”.

“I think it’s something that’s different than what people are used to for this story. But, man, I really think people are going to like it. I don’t want to assume for nobody, but, it was fun to make.”

Meanwhile, Christensen promised “great surprises” for viewers, adding simply: “I think this is another great Star Wars story and it really delivers in true Star Wars fashion.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi begins streaming from today with two episodes, followed by weekly episodes every Wednesday.