Hayden Christensen revealed in an interview with Empire Magazine on Wednesday that he thought Leonardo DiCaprio would appear in the Star Wars series.

Christensen, known for playing Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, spoke candidly about joining the cast of the iconic series. . “I heard they met with Leonardo and many other actors,” he said. empire magazine.

“It confirms my belief that this role would go to another actor,” he continued. “Throughout the entire audition process, I was telling myself from day one that I wasn't going to get this role. It wasn't a possibility. And I think that probably helped me a lot, because… Because it freed me in many ways. So I was really surprised when I got this role.” (Related: Chad Stahelski wants to try directing a Star Wars movie)

Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker showed how an idealistic teenager became one of cinema's most iconic villains.

He speaks exclusively to Empire about fighting the Tusken Raiders, killing young men, and the weight of expectations.

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— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) February 28, 2024

Despite ultimately succeeding in landing the role, Christensen's journey in the “Star Wars” universe was not without its challenges. His performance as Anakin was met with criticism, reflecting the widespread backlash against the prequel trilogy. “My character was criticized, my acting was criticized, and that part was the worst,” Christensen recalled.

“But I also felt like there was some background that maybe could help a little bit,” the actor continued. “When 'Episode I' came out, I was very excited because I thought they were going to make a new Star Wars movie and that it was going to be Darth Vader's backstory. But I had some friends who were upset that the character started out as this young kid. And then they saw that movie and loved it. It was everything I wanted and more. And I I couldn't understand the discrepancy between the movie I saw and the negative opinions in some reviews.

Over time, Christensen's character Anakin Skywalker has been reevaluated by fans, with many now appreciating his contribution to the Star Wars saga. Christensen reprized his role as Anakin/Darth Vader in several recent Star Wars TV series on Disney+, including Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka.