Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor's Big Feud Over Iconic Star Wars Scene Exposed!
Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor reportedly clashed with George Lucas over the outcome of a crucial scene in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith".
Updated : October 20, 2023 05:27 PM ISTHayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor reportedly clashed with George Lucas over the outcome of a crucial scene in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith".
Hayden Christensen's Standoff with Lucas: Behind the Legendary Star Wars Duel
In the world of Hollywood throwbacks, few tales glitter like the galactic battles within the Star Wars universe. The early 2000s trilogy, notably introducing Anakin Skywalker's descent into Darth Vader, often stands out as the most contentious. CGI advancements, sprawling battles, and curious new characters have only added more layers to the trilogy's legend. But, as reported by MovieWeb, one iconic moment from the trilogy stands out, not for its cinematic prowess, but for the behind-the-scenes friction it caused.
Mustafar's Fiery DisputeStar Wars stunt coordinator Nick Gillard, in a conversation with Star Wars Theory, shed light on the behind-the-camera tensions of the franchise's most-discussed scene: the dramatic face-off between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) on the volcanic planet of Mustafar in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith". Gillard confessed, "Even the boys, Ewan and Hayden, went to George and said, 'George, this!' and he was having none of it". So intense were these feelings that a plea was made to the saga's creator, George Lucas, to alter the scene.
The Alternate VisionDigging deeper, Gillard presented an alternate ending that could have graced our screens. This version painted a more accidental sequence of events leading to Anakin's gruesome injuries, deviating from the preordained climax. Recounting the reshuffled events, Gillard detailed, "Anakin just grabbed [Obi-Wan] by the throat... He's got him and Obi's saber is down on the ground, and Anakin says, 'I'm sorry it has to be this way, my master,' and actually lets [the lightsaber] go." This visceral depiction would've resulted in Obi-Wan inadvertently inflicting harm on Anakin, rather than the premeditated victory we saw.
Gillard's commentary is intriguing yet also reveals a sense of deference for Lucas. Emphasizing the importance of artistic vision, he mused, "we wouldn't be having this conversation if it wasn't for George, so I think it's foolish second-guessing him."
It's a testament to the franchise's longevity and depth that even years later, every revelation from its archives sends tremors through the fan community. This piece of Star Wars history, a difference in creative vision between actors and directors, remains a fascinating layer added to the rich tapestry of the saga.
(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)