The next live-action “Star Wars” television series, “Ahsoka,” is set to debut later this month on Disney+, but some new TV spots that debuted on ABC on Saturday (Aug. 12) have fans on social media buzzing as they feature new voice-over dialogue of actor Hayden Christensen portraying Anakin Skywalker.
You can see the first TV spot that dropped earlier on ABC on Saturday night below:
“Don’t be afraid” New Anakin Skywalker TV spot! #StarWars #Ahsoka #AhsokaTano #Anakin #DarthVader @StarWarsExplain @Ky1eKatarn #HaydenChristensen pic.twitter.com/AaLsrTdnGQ
— Kyle Arking ?(he/him) (@ArkingKyle) August 13, 2023
‘Ahsoka’ Footage Reveals New Lines Of Hayden Christen As Anakin Skywalker, Teasing His Return
The first new TV spot that has surfaced on social media is built strongly around former Jedi Ahsoka Tano’s (Rosario Dawson) relationship with her former master, Anakin Skywalker. The former Jedi-turned-mercenary Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) referencing Anakin Skywalker’s fate and transformation into Darth Vader. Ahsoka then points out in what appears to be another scene, “By the end of the Clone Wars, I walked away from him and the Jedi.”
In terms of the new Anakin Skywalker lines, Christensen can be heard saying, “In this war, you will face more than just droids. As your master, it’s my responsibility to prepare you. Don’t be afraid. I know you can do this Ahsoka.” An additional TV spot for the series that also surfaced on social media also featured some more unique dialogue, including Anakin saying, “I won’t always be there to look out for you.” He also says, “Trust your instincts,” evoking something said to him by his old mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn from “The Phantom Menace.” Another line has Anakin saying, “I know you can do this Ahsoka.”
In 10 days, a new Jedi will rise.
The two-episode series premiere of @AhsokaOfficial, a Star Wars Original series, arrives August 23 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/VFyv8COqQV
— Star Wars (@starwars) August 13, 2023
It was previously reported beforehand by Deadline in October 2021 that Christensen joined the cast of the upcoming live-action “Star Wars” series. Christensen has already recently returned to the franchise, reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader in the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” miniseries. He also has a Clone Wars era flashback in his younger happier days, showing him training and learning from his own master, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), during the series.
Obviously, the new footage and lines teasing Christensen’s return as the character had fans on social media buzzing with excitement.
You can see some of the reactions below:
Oh, if I wasn’t excited for this show before. ? Hearing Hayden’s Anakin talking to Ahsoka, man……. This show cannot come fast enough. ? https://t.co/yO1VSGA5w0 pic.twitter.com/4nZ7Ti0KEL
— Key’Shawn Watkins #BLM (@KeyWatkins51299) August 13, 2023
Oh my god, that is new dialogue recorded by Hayden I can’t believe they let that slip out this early.
(The cynical part of me is they went “well, our actors can’t do press right now”) https://t.co/qsal1sgylU
— Mike Chen – DS9: THE DOG OF WAR #5 out now! (@mikechenwriter) August 13, 2023
Hayden Christensen proving yet again why he’s the best casting in Star Wars history pic.twitter.com/UM2n5OI5QT
— PeakyLOTR (@BrockMorrison19) August 13, 2023
THIS IS TOO MUCH WITH HAYDEN’S VOICE, I SCREAMED pic.twitter.com/r0CPPhD5OF
— reia ? ahsoka (@ravenmikasaa) August 13, 2023
I absolutely loved the trailer but part of me wishes they’d kept the Hayden dialogue a secret until the actual show came out because now I’m going to spend the entire time waiting for his dialogue. https://t.co/xtLD4aU3tW
— JS (@JackSimmons101) August 13, 2023
The New Dialogue Is Reminiscent Of Recent ‘Tales Of The Jedi’ Short
While not a clear 1:1, some of the new dialogue by Christensen is highly reminiscent of the animated anthology shorts series, “Tales of the Jedi,” which also debuted last year on Disney+. One episode of the show, “Practice Makes Perfect,” features Anakin (voiced by Matt Lanter) training a younger Ahsoka Tano (voiced by Ashley Eckstein) early on during the Clone Wars. This is not long after Ahsoka first became Anakin’s Padawan apprentice.
In “Practice Makes Perfect,” Anakin has Ahsoka take part in a strenuous training exercise as they are about to take part in an all-out war. Anakin at one point says, “Droids are predictable. I want you to be ready for anything.” He then has Captain Rex and his Arc Troopers open blaster stun rounds on Ahsoka so she has to defend herself by deflecting from live targets rather than droids.
At one point Anakin tells Ahsoka in the animated short, “As your master, I’m responsible for you,” which sounds slightly similar to the version featured in the new TV spots. So it will be interesting to see if this is a flashback that will be seen later in the television series that’s meant to resemble the animated short “Practice Makes Perfect.”
Dave Filoni, who created the Ahsoka Tano character, wrote and executive produced “Tales of the Jedi” and that “Practice Makes Perfect” short. Filoni is also the lead writer and showrunner of the “Ahsoka” TV series. So, it would make sense if Filoni opted to tie some of those elements together for Ahsoka’s story, considering he’s had a hand in all of her major storylines, including Ahsoka’s transition from animation to a fully realized live-action character.
“Ahsoka” also stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, David Tennant as Huyang, and Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn. “Ahsoka” debuts on August 23 on Disney+ with a two-episode premiere. New episodes of the eight episode season will then air weekly, with the finale set to debut on the streamer on October 4.