Key Takeaways:
– Hayden Christensen went to unconventional lengths to get the scared expressions he needed from the child actors in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
– To the shock of the crew, he growled and shouted at the children to provoke genuine fear.
– In a crucial scene, Ross Beadman, playing a 7-year-old Jedi in training, recalls how Christensen managed to bring his fear to life by startling him.
– These tactics were effective in making audiences loathe Christensen's character, Anakin Skywalker.
– Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith did well among audiences, scoring 7.6/10 on IMDB and 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, and is now available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
The Intensity Behind Anakin Skywalker
In the world of Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker is a character whose journey into darkness makes him one of the most controversial figures in the galaxy. Portrayed by Hayden Christensen, Skywalker's darkest moment comes in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith when he slaughters children of the Jedi at the instruction of Emperor Palpatine. To convey the gravity of this scene, Christensen took unconventional steps to provoke genuine expressions of fear among the child actors.
The Enigma of the Massacre Scene
One significant scene sees Skywalker in the Jedi Council chambers, confronting a group of younglings, Jedi children. Skywalker draws his lightsaber and the scene cuts, leaving their fate to the viewer's imagination. Achieving the required terror in the child actors' faces was a real challenge for the cast and the crew. Here, Christensen employed an unconventional method to achieve it: he growled and shouted at the children, startling them and capturing their genuine fear.
Ross Beadman Recounts the Tense Moments
Ross Beadman, who was just 7 when the movie premiered, played a youngling who steps forward in the tense scene. In an interview, Beadman shares his experience of filming that scene, and how Christensen's terrifying expressions truly startled him.
The actor said, “I shouted, or growled at him, because we needed a genuine moment of him being startled. The result was exactly what we needed, and it made the scene work really well.” According to Beadman, it took about four to five takes to get the scene right.
Christensen's Unconventional Acting Approach
The young actor shares how he initially struggled to focus on Christensen instead of the lightsaber, leading to several retakes. Then, in the final take, when Christensen unsheathed his saber, he shouted ‘BOO!' at Beadman, startling him and making the scene feel genuinely authentic. This unusual and iconic scene remains impactful, creating a deep-seated aversion to Anakin Skywalker.
The Consequences of Anakin's Downfall
Christensen's portrayal of Anakin Skywalker and the bold decisions he made during the filming process were indeed effective. After the release of the Revenge of the Sith, viewers truly detested Skywalker, as director George Lucas intended. The scene was a fundamental factor in the movie scoring an impressive 7.6 out of 10 on IMDB and 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
In conclusion, Hayden Christensen's unconventional methods on the set of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith were highly effective, providing the necessary intensity for his character's darkest scenes. His efforts are still resonating with Star Wars fans worldwide, and the film remains available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
