Hayden Christensen Reflects On Anakin's Tusken Raider Massacre

Hayden Christensen describes working with George Lucas to nail Anakin's Tusken Raider massacre scene in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.

Hayden Christensen Reflects On Anakin's Tusken Raider Massacre

Hayden Christensen opens up on what it was like to film Anakin’s Tusken Raider massacre in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Christensen’s casting as the future Darth Vader led to the actor gaining worldwide stardom overnight. He then reprised the role in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which charted the character’s defection to the Dark Side and transformation into the iconic Sith Lord. But, as with many aspects of the prequel trilogy, Christensen’s portrayal received mixed reviews from critics, with the actor being awarded the Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor for both of his performances. However, audience opinion has mellowed over the intervening years, and Christensen’s return as Darth Vader in the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series has many fans excited.

One of the actor’s defining scenes as Anakin comes in his first outing: Returning to his home world of Tatooine after sensing that his mother is in pain, he finds that she has been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders and is on the verge of death. She then dies in his arms following a brief but heartfelt reunion, leading the Jedi-in-training to go on a murderous rampage throughout the Tusken camp, killing the killing the tribe’s men, women, and children in anger. Anakin’s Tusken Raider massacre marks one of the first instances of him succumbing to the Dark Side, and illustrates an integral element of the grief that fuels Vader in both Revenge of the Sith and the original trilogy.

Now, 20 years after Attack of the Clones was released, Christensen opens up on what it was like to film the Tusken Raider massacre scene. Speaking in an interview with StarWars.com, the actor describes his work with writer/director George Lucas in getting the scene right, noting how “important [it was] for this character and for his arc.” Read Christensen’s full account of the crucial Star Wars moment below:

We all understood that it was an important scene for this character and for his arc. When we were rehearsing it, we tried it a few different ways. I had conversations with George about the degree of his angst and emotional state, and trying to find it. We tried it one way, and I didn’t quite feel like I was connecting with it. George walked over to me and we had a really nice heart-to-heart conversation. I felt that scene was pivotal in my relationship with him as well, in terms of how we spoke about the work and the character. We really opened up our dialogue, which then continued into Episode III. But yeah, that scene was a big one.

As well as illustrating one of his first forays to the Dark Side, Anakin’s Tusken Raider massacre foreshadows killing of Jedi Younglings after Order 66 in Revenge of the Sith. As well as this, his subsequent confession of his actions to Padmé leads him to vow that he will one day learn how prevent people from dying, ensuring that he never feels the same loss with anyone else as he did with his mother. This is an essential motivation for Anakin that finally causes him to become Darth Vader, fearing that Padmé will soon die in childbirth.

As well as providing a fascinating insight into the emotional study he put into the role, Christensen’s account gives a heartwarming illustration of his relationship with Lucas while filming the prequels. The actor’s dedication to portraying Anakin as faithfully as possible has continued, with Christensen watching all of The Clone Wars series in preparation of his reprisal of the role in Obi-Wan Kenobi. And with Obi-Wan Kenobi premiering on Disney+ in just ten days time, fans will no doubt be eager to see where Christensen takes the role 20 years after this pivotal scene hit movie screens.