Ashoka Stars Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen on Prequel Respect

Actors usually have the troublesome process of assembly one another on the identical day that their characters are imagined to convey a way of historical past between each other, in order that’s exactly what makes the story of Ahsoka’s Rosario Dawson and Hayden Christensen all of the extra particular. 

In the summertime of 1995, the 2 budding teenage actors attended drama college collectively at New York Metropolis’s Lee Strasberg Theatre and Movie Institute, so Christensen was proper there when Dawson’s profession was established by means of Concord Korine and Larry Clark’s provocative indie, Children. Equally, in 2002, Dawson caught up with Christensen in the course of his Anakin Skywalker period, as they each filmed their respective roles on the set of Billy Ray’s Shattered Glass. In 2004, the critically acclaimed biographical drama would go on to be nominated for greatest image at nineteenth Unbiased Spirit Awards, the place the 2 mates would current an award and unknowingly take pictures that may have an incredible affect on their lives practically 30 years later. (The principle picture of this piece consists of one instance.)

“That was really one of many pictures that [Lucasfilm’s] Dave [Filoni] noticed when he first imagined doubtlessly casting me [as Ahsoka]. He was like, ‘How is that even attainable?’” Dawson tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So to see us younger collectively and actually have this unusual, bizarre, magical, connective, fortuitous historical past and connection to all of it, it’s undoubtedly one thing that the followers have been very enthusiastic about. Who might have ever imagined this? You possibly can’t make these things up. You possibly can’t write it.”

Dawson is referring to the truth that she and Christensen are in a position to make use of their shared historical past to painting the way more difficult historical past between Ahsoka and Anakin, as former Jedi Grasp and Jedi Padawan. Ahsoka, within the Clone Wars animated sequence, turned her again on Anakin and the Jedi Order after she was blamed for a criminal offense she didn’t commit. The Order, realizing the error that was made, reinstated her, however the injury was already accomplished and Ahsoka went her personal method. Nevertheless, Anakin would then go on to change into Darth Vader, inflicting untold loss of life and destruction, and Ahsoka, ever since then, has partially blamed herself and her absence for what transpired. And as depicted on The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, this longtime burden causes her to withstand the thought of coaching Grogu and Sabine out of concern of establishing comparable downfalls. 

When Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 and relaunched the movie franchise with Star Wars: The Drive Awakens, the messaging on the time was all about recapturing the spirit and aesthetic of George Lucas’ authentic Star Wars trilogy. There was additionally a noticeable reluctance to embrace the Star Wars creator’s then-divisive prequel trilogy, however that slowly began to vary, starting with a rousing ovation that Christensen skilled at 2017’s Star Wars Celebration. He then offered a voice cameo in 2019’s sequel trilogy capper, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, earlier than December 2020’s announcement that he can be reuniting with Ewan McGregor within the Deborah Chow-directed restricted sequence, Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

As an entire, the Star Wars prequel trilogy wasn’t effectively acquired on the time of every movie’s theatrical launch, although the trilogy capper, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, earned mixed-positive evaluations and was broadly thought of to be the spotlight of the three movies. Sadly, popular culture wasn’t too sort to the trilogy, and the important thing figures concerned needed to endure excessive quantities of flak for his or her work. You’ll even hear potshots and jokes in comedies and different works that got here out within the wake of the prequels. That’s partially why Chow took it upon herself to make sure that Christensen had a constructive expertise on Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

At this second in time, Christensen stays magnanimous about all of it. 

“My expertise with Star Wars has all the time been a constructive one. The critics actually took their intention at these movies through the prequel days, however I all the time felt the help from the followers,” Christensen says. “So it’s been very nice to get to return again now and be part of this franchise, and proceed with the character and in addition benefit from the reception that these movies have now.”

It’s robust to pinpoint precisely why the consensus across the prequels has shifted. Maybe it’s the newfound perspective that the viewers has after experiencing one other 20 years of franchise leisure that, general, doesn’t really feel as authentic or singular as Lucas’ creations. Possibly it’s as a result of younger millennials at the moment are shaping the zeitgeist and describing the affect that these movies had on them on the time. It’d even come from older millennials and Gen X watching the movies by means of their children’ eyes.

However Dawson has no downside calling it like it’s: “I prefer to say that [Hayden’s] acquired the excessive floor now.”

As for the way forward for Dawson and Christensen’s collaboration, they don’t know what’s in retailer for Ahsoka season two, however Dawson believes that Filoni has loads of choices at his disposal. 

“In episode seven, there’s a few different [Anakin training hologram] cassettes, so to talk, and also you see him as a Drive Ghost ultimately. So there’s room, as persons are giving me seems off digital camera …” Dawson says, whereas Christensen laughs. “However there’s room for us to return again collectively once more, and that is simply too enjoyable. I might hate for it to finish.”

Under, throughout a latest FYC dialog with THR, Dawson and Christensen additionally break down their extremely regarded episode of Ahsoka, “Half 5: Shadow Warrior,” earlier than Dawson will get emotional whereas recalling a quote from the memorial of their late Ahsoka co-star Ray Stevenson and the way it affected her outlook of Ahsoka and Anakin’s relationship. 

Hayden, I spoke to Obi-Wan Kenobi director Deborah Chow final yr, and he or she mentioned that considered one of her prime priorities was to just remember to had an excellent expertise on that restricted sequence. Does your involvement in Ahsoka imply that she succeeded?

Hayden Christensen: Oh, huge time, yeah. The entire expertise has been simply superior. Getting to return again to Star Wars, first with Obi-Wan Kenobi, was wonderful. Getting to do this with Ewan [McGregor] was actually particular for me, as was getting to return and be part of Ahsoka with my previous good friend Rosario, and attending to work with Dave Filoni and everybody. One of many very nice issues about working within the Star Wars universe is the folks. It brings collectively some actually proficient, wonderful folks.

Deb and I additionally talked about how the tide has actually turned on the prequels, and it’s a reminder that motion pictures play the lengthy recreation. They’re not their opening weekend or critic rating. You now obtain a hero’s welcome everytime you go to Celebration or varied expos, however general, it wasn’t all the time like that. I do know folks, even filmmakers, who remorse how they engaged with these movies. Is all that stuff now water below the bridge primarily based on how effectively issues have gone with Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Christensen: Yeah, I imply … Look, my expertise with Star Wars has all the time been a constructive one. The critics actually took their intention at these movies through the prequel days, however I all the time felt the help from the followers. So it’s been very nice to get to return again now and be part of this franchise, and proceed with the character and in addition benefit from the reception that these movies have now. So, yeah.

Rosario Dawson: I prefer to say that [Hayden’s] acquired the excessive floor now. 

Christensen: (Laughs.)

Dawson: I’m a New Yorker, and I haven’t been put up on the Empire State Constructing, bigger than life, [like Hayden has]. One in every of as of late, perhaps, however personally, I used to be so excited when he [originally] acquired the position, having met him and recognized him beforehand. And to now be capable of see him embody completely different iterations of this character is such a scrumptious factor. You don’t usually get to be characters with such longevity, and that  — for me and I feel for lots of the followers — has been most enjoyable. It’s so compelling to only see his journey proceed.

Christensen: That’s candy.

Rosario, whenever you had been approached about your personal present, how quickly did Hayden’s identify come up as a chance?

Dawson: They hold every thing so tight to the vest, particularly as a result of I’m phrase salad. I’ll simply give all of it away, in order that they don’t inform me something, nevertheless it’s all the time been doled out in little items. From The Mandalorian, there was by no means any thought past that [season two] episode [“Chapter 13: The Jedi”] that it may very well be extra. There was an thought, perhaps a chance, however no assure. So to have the ability to come again on The Guide of Boba Fett after which be informed that we had been going to have our personal present has simply been such a delight. And being that you simply’ve seen Ahsoka actually be this ronin on her personal for therefore lengthy, it has been so distinctive to have the ability to discover these relationships that this character has had for therefore lengthy. I get to play and join with previous mates on display and off display, and I’ve additionally been so excited to see how she’s developed on this leg of her journey. Once more, coming from the movie area, you normally get your script after which that’s it. So it continues to unravel earlier than me, and we nonetheless don’t know what’s going to occur within the second season. That huge query mark is definitely actually fairly thrilling, and it’s such a distinct and enjoyable expertise. However after I noticed Hayden on Obi-Wan Kenobi, I harassed Dave about it. He didn’t inform me, however I harassed him about it.

Whenever you first met one another at Lee Strasberg Theatre and Movie Institute, was that the identical summer season that Children got here out?

Dawson: Yeah! 1995.

And then you definitely had been each in 2003’s Shattered Glass, however you didn’t have any scenes collectively. Did you continue to stumble upon one another off set? 

Christensen: Yeah, we frolicked a bunch after we had been doing that movie. 

Dawson: Which was actually cool. One of many extra notorious pictures of us was us on the [2004’s] Unbiased Spirit Awards right here in L.A. There’s an image of us embracing, and we introduced on stage collectively. And that was really one of many pictures that Dave noticed when he first imagined doubtlessly casting me [as Ahsoka]. He was like, “How is that even attainable?” So to see us younger collectively and actually have this unusual, bizarre, magical, connective, fortuitous historical past and connection to all of it, it’s undoubtedly one thing that the followers have been very enthusiastic about. Who might have ever imagined this? You possibly can’t make these things up. You possibly can’t write it. 

There’s a significant lesson being taught in Ahsoka’s fifth episode, “Half 5: Shadow Warrior.” Ahsoka carries guilt over what Anakin grew to become after she left him and the Jedi Order in The Clone Wars, and he or she’s apprehensive she’ll have an identical impact on Sabine. So was the important thing level, of a number of, to have Anakin assist her embrace mentorship?

Christensen: For Anakin, he simply desires to assist Ahsoka get out of her personal method, no matter that appears like. She’s nonetheless caught up to now and needing to reconcile sure issues, and the will to have her change into the mentor that she must be to Sabine is part of that. However I don’t suppose it’s nearly that.

Dawson: Yeah, you see a touch of that in The Mandalorian when she’s supplied to tackle Grogu and the way reticent she is to do this then. So there’s undoubtedly a commencement in that facet of her life, however I very a lot noticed that interplay in [Ahsoka] episode 5 as a reckoning and a chance for her to develop a distinct perspective on one thing that she’s arduously considered and been traumatized by and beleaguered by. She’s actually maneuvered her life round it in so some ways, and considered one of my favourite beats and moments is when Anakin is difficult her: “Is that each one that you’re?” It’s about not decreasing herself to only that alternative [of leaving Anakin and the Jedi Order] and having the ability to absolutely see and embrace the complete journey that she’s had and belief herself just a little bit extra. It’s about having a bit extra self-confidence and shedding doubt, burden and guilt and having the ability to transfer into a distinct stage. In order that’s most likely one of many extra rewarding components of her journey that I’ve gotten to embody. 

Dawson: And as Dave has mentioned, now that she’s reconciling her previous, it provides her the chance to essentially look towards what the longer term is. It doesn’t imply that there’s not going to be extra crises and challenges, however she will be able to do it on a steadier floor than she’s had earlier than and she will be able to do it lighter. I like the visible of her going into extra of the Ahsoka the White, nevertheless it’s additionally one thing very inside. We’ve seen her be very stoic at this level in her life, and I’m excited on the alternative to see this lightning, relying on regardless of the scripts are coming ahead. However you even get to see that after this episode and in the remainder of the sequence. She’s now capable of admire that in herself and permit it to shine by means of, even in that final beat of disarming Anakin and pulling that saber up and going to that place of simply actual rage. She’s permitting her to really feel it, and he or she’d held herself again from even actually occupied with it. And due to all that, she’s with him once more within the [seventh] episode, watching these previous [training] movies. She’s not allowed herself to do this as a result of she’s denied that darkish facet of her recollections, however she’s now capable of admire simply how great he actually was and what a present he was. 

Dawson: I used to be simply at Ray’s [Stevenson] celebration in Ibiza with Betta [Elisabetta Caraccia], his accomplice, and his children, and together with his passing, it’s very straightforward to lean into the despair and the unhappiness of him being gone. However considered one of his actually nice mates mentioned, “It’s essential to dwell the good points.” I’m going to cry, however [it’s important to live] all the actually stunning issues that he gifted us with and what a fantastic human being he was. So I really feel that very a lot on this episode. She will get to lastly simply admire and love this particular person, unabashedly, with out it having to get cloudy and darkish, and it’s such a present.

To me, one signal of an ideal Jedi Grasp is when their apprentice one-ups them in a duel, and Ahsoka bested Anakin within the World Between Worlds, proving he additionally taught her effectively in that regard. Do the 2 of you agree that Ahsoka gaining the higher hand on Anakin is the final word praise to his teachings? 

Christensen: Ah, you already know … (Christensen hesitates to agree in comedic trend.)

(Dawson & Christensen then snort, whereas Dawson claps her arms.)

Christensen: I don’t know! My interpretation is that it was part of the lesson, however positive, to every their very own.

Are you saying he might have thrown the combat [for the sake of the lesson]? 

Christensen: I’m not saying that! I’m simply saying …

Dawson: I’m simply saying, ellipses.

Dawson & Christensen: (Snicker.)

Dawson: I feel it was additionally a present from Dave after Ahsoka’s combat with Baylon Skoll [Ray Stevenson] and her falling off of that cliff. She then will get to indicate a distinct facet [with Anakin]. She will get some comeuppance just a little bit, which is admittedly nice. It wasn’t absolutely realized within the script, however there was this beat when Ahsoka left Shin Hati [Ivanna Sakhno] and Sabine [Natasha Bordizzo] to combat within the forest and go after Baylan Skoll. After which Shin abruptly seems with out Sabine, and the final time they fought, Sabine nearly died. Ahsoka trusted her and left her, and now right here comes Shin, alone. So there’s a second the place Ahsoka force-chokes Shin and throws her, and it’s a right away response out of Ahsoka, which could be very uncommon for her. The upset that comes up reveals this darker facet, which I feel is a premonition of what’s to return in episode 5. So I actually love that as a result of she misplaced management just a little bit, she will get bested on this method [by Baylon Skoll]. And when she will get one other alternative to be confronted in that very same form of second [with Anakin], she makes a distinct alternative, a more sensible choice, one which leaves her with the higher hand.

Christensen: (Snicker.)

Hayden, the alternating silhouette shot that was projected on the Empire State Constructing, did that shot come out even higher than you imagined?

Christensen: Yeah, I simply liked that visible [of Anakin and Vader in the distance]. The way in which that Dave Filoni conceived it after which introduced it to life after which edited it, I used to be very proud of how that got here out. I assumed it was stunning. 

Your co-star Eman Esfandi informed me a narrative of how formidable Hayden’s combat rehearsal was within the stunt health club, and the way he set an instance for his personal coaching. He additionally mentioned he didn’t acknowledge that it was Hayden at first. 

Christensen: (Snicker.)

Rosario, did Hayden remotely strike you as a man who hadn’t accomplished a lot lightsabering the final twenty years till Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Dawson: You might have stopped the sentence at, “Did Hayden strike you?” That may’ve been greater than sufficient!

Dawson & Christensen: (Snicker.)

Christensen: A number of occasions! I acquired the rust off throughout Obi-Wan, after which by the point we acquired to Ahsoka, I used to be again with the swing of issues.

Dawson: Oh yeah!

Rosario, had been you current to assist information Ariana Greenblatt’s efficiency as youthful Ahsoka? Or did they have you ever taking pictures with one other crew?

Dawson: We acquired to be in rehearsal collectively and in addition in the identical health club, training. I keep in mind a second the place she was doing this little cut up transfer, so we did the splits collectively. I used to be like, “Come on, woman! That is one thing that she will be able to do it doesn’t matter what age.” So we simply actually laughed about that. We additionally found out sure gestures and postures, as she graduates into completely different phases inside these couple of scenes she has. She needed to hold that transition linked, which was actually, actually enjoyable. So it was nice to have the ability to have that point, since you don’t all the time get rehearsal time and face time with folks. And after I came visiting on set, she’d already been coaching for therefore lengthy that it was simply so cool to not solely see hints of the conversations we had beforehand, but in addition how a lot she embodied it and made it her personal.

Hayden, Rosario talked about earlier that you simply don’t know something about season two, however do you count on extra mystical hangouts in your future? 

Christensen: I don’t know. It will actually be a variety of enjoyable, however I don’t know. We are going to see what Dave’s cooking up.

Dawson: In episode seven, there’s a few different [Anakin training hologram] cassettes, so to talk, and also you see him as a Drive Ghost ultimately. So there’s room, as persons are giving me seems off digital camera …

Dawson & Christensen: (Snicker.)

Dawson: However there’s room for us to return again collectively once more, and that is simply too enjoyable. I might hate for it to finish. 

A brand new Star Wars present known as The Acolyte just lately premiered, and Hayden was a part of a stunning video for Amandla Stenberg. What would the 2 of you inform these new Jedi and new villains so far as the right way to navigate this very distinctive expertise?  

Christensen: Simply have enjoyable with it, as a result of it is such a singular expertise. It’s such a particular world to be part of, so relish each second. 

Dawson: I’m loving what Amandla [Stenberg] is doing already, and that is such an ideal and good second for Star Wars followers and Star Wars typically, with all of those completely different views which are being proven. So I can’t wait to look at it. I noticed one thing on-line a few lightsaber whip [lightwhip]. I haven’t seen something but, however I feel they’re attending to play on this world in a unique and completely different method than the rest that you simply’ve seen beforehand. And that simply makes me delight within the majesty and breadth of this universe and world that George Lucas cooked up, so I can’t wait to see it. I wasn’t capable of be right here for the premiere, however I talked to Ivanna and Natasha, and so they had been so excited concerning the first two episodes that they acquired to see. So I can’t wait. I used to be screaming on the display throughout Andor, which is so good, and there’s no lightsabers in it. It’s a very completely different imaginative and prescient, and so I’m actually excited for The Acolyte. It seems completely completely different than what we’ve seen earlier than.

Lastly, whenever you reminisce about your Ahsoka expertise at 2054’s Star Wars Celebration, what day will you remind one another of first? 

Christensen: It will be standing on that bridge and taking a look at one another in costume, simply type of pinching ourselves and pondering how fortunate we’re to have the ability to do that collectively after assembly as children for the primary time in theater college. So it might be standing on set and appreciating that we had been attending to be there collectively. 

Dawson: I’m actually enthusiastic about that idea and that concept. We met as younger aspiring teenage actors, and it’s simply so dope to essentially relate to the whole thing of this expertise. That was practically 30 years in the past, so to venture that 30 years into the longer term, I’m simply hoping we’re persevering with to do that as a result of it’s superior.

Christensen: Undoubtedly. 

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Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney+.