Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalkerwas supposed to be the culmination of the Skywalker Saga , yet it was missing who is arguablyStar Wars ’ most authoritative character – Anakin Skywalker . Although both Hayden Christensen ’s characterization of Anakin and theStar Warsprequels were met with a lot of literary criticism in the other 2000s , Star Warshas latterly welcome the prequel trilogy and its bequest . Hayden Christensen reprised his theatrical role as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader inObi - Wan Kenobi , and while it was satisfy to see Anakin and Obi - Wan interacting again , Christensen ’s bestStar Warsreturn could have been inThe Rise of Skywalker .

fundamentally , The Rise of Skywalkerwasted four gross opportunities forHayden Christensen ’s Anakin Skywalker return . The absence seizure of Anakin inEpisode IXis a reflection of a much big problem with the subsequence trilogy – how it tried to distance itself from the prequels even when the report expect for callbacks toEpisodes I , II , andIII.The hike of Skywalkerhad the most connexion with the prequels of all three moving-picture show in the sequel trilogy , yet it did not feature a Hayden Christensen Anakin Skywalker cameo . FromThe Rise of Skywalker ’s Mustafar sequence to the film ’s ending scene , there was no shortage of options forEpisode IXto feature Anakin .

relate : The Force Awakens ' Anakin Force Ghost Plan Explained ( & Why It Did n’t chance )

George Lucas with A New Hope imagery v3

Darth Vader’s Mustafar Tower

One of the most visually interesting moment in theStar Warssequels , Kylo Ren ’s journeying in Mustafar could have been much better if there were at least some book of facts to Darth Vader – especially a Hayden Christensen ’s Anakin Force ghost cameo . regrettably , The Rise of Skywalker ’s Mustafar sceneis way too brief to even acknowledge Darth Vader lived on that planet . In fact , Mustafar is not even named inThe ascent of Skywalker , and the only prescribed confirmation that the lava major planet was indeed the one fromStar warfare : Episode III - Revenge on the Sithcame later on withThe Rise of Skywalker’sVisual Dictionary . Therefore , The Rise of Skywalker ’s wasted Mustafar opportunity goes beyond a likely Hayden Christensen cameo .

Curiously , the reason why Mustafar had trees inThe Rise of Skywalkeris that metre help the planet bring around and return to its original biome . In other words , the fact that Darth Vader ’s evil presence was no longer part of Mustafar allowed the planet to heal . As such , having Anakin ’s Force ghost look in Mustafar would have function in full term of canon – and it would have added to the satellite ’s healing process . A scene betweenKylo Ren and AnakininThe Rise of Skywalker ’s opening succession would have also created a great conflict for the character , as Ben Solo would have been dissever between listening to his redeemed grandfather or Emperor Palpatine .

Ben Solo’s Redemption Scene

Harrison Ford returned toStar WarsafterStar Wars : The Force Awakensfor a abbreviated prospect inThe Rise of Skywalkerin which Han Solo reach out to Ben Solo during a pivotal moment in Kylo Ren ’s life . The backwash of Kylo Ren ’s lightsaber affaire d’honneur against Rey was the conclusion of Ben Solo ’s redemption , which was solidified by Han Solo forgive his son . Still , as great as the scene between Ben and Han Solo was inThe upgrade of Skywalker , anAnakin Skywalker Force ghostcould have also function at that here and now . Han ’s scene could have continued in the movie even if there were to be an Anakin Force spook , as Han ’s presence was more of Ben Solo forgiving himself than an actual Force ghost .

Anakin ’s Force ghost could have appeared to a redeemed Ben Solo as a mentor the same way as Luke appeared to Rey in Ach - To . Ben Solo was about to go to the most unsafe fight of his life-time , and he would soon face Palpatine and the full extent of the Sith ’s power . The acclivity of Skywalkerskips Ben Solo ’s planning for the final engagement , and it jump from Kylo Ren ’s redemption to the here and now he appear in Exegol . The gap between those scenes would have been a bully instant to feature a conversation between Ben Solo and Anakin ’s Force wraith . A moment betweenBen Solo and Anakin Skywalkerwould have also improved the former ’s sacrifice at the remnant of the movie .

Related : Star Wars in conclusion let on The Story Of Anakin Skywalker ’s Mother

Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2

Rey Reaches Out To All The Jedi

The culmination of the intact Skywalker Saga , Rey reaching out to every Jedi that ever existed at the end ofThe Rise of Skywalkercould have been even more releasing if sport an actual Anakin Skywalker cameo . Hayden Christensen did sound a few line for Anakin , yet they are easy missable amid all other Jedi voice cameo . The Jedi voices shot inThe ascent of Skywalkerwas supposed to be a solemnisation of theStar Warslegacy , and even Jedi whose condition during the subsequence trilogy is still a mystery , such as Ahsoka Tano , were take heed . While it was an interesting idea to have Rey reach out to all of the Jedi , a seeable Anakin Skywalker Force spook cameo could have suit into that scene .

There was pretty much no connection between Rey and Anakin in theStar Warssequels , which is a mistake considering that Rey was supposed to be the Skywalker legacy even though she was not related to them . One of the most divisive elements about the continuation trilogy is how it seemly undoes Anakin Skywalker ’s choose One bequest , asThe ascension of Skywalkerreveals that Palpatine was never really destroyed . Considering thatRey defeating Palpatineonce and for all inEpisode IXcan be considered as the mo balance was brought to the Force , an Anakin Force ghost cameo flop before Rey destroys Darth Sidious would have made the Chosen One divination a lot more ordered across all threeStar Warstrilogies .

The Rise of Skywalker’s Ending Scene

Rey create a particular bail with Leia and Luke , yet the chronicle of the Skywalker family trace back to Shmi and Anakin . The Rise of Skywalker ’s finish sees Rey overcome Palpatine once and for all and taking on the Skywalker name , which makes the absence seizure of a Hayden Christensen Anakin cameo an even bigger squandered opportunity . Granted , Rey did n’t know much about Anakin Skywalker , which by itself was also a missing chance even if Rey was not theorise to be related to the Skywalkers . The Rise of Skywalker ’s final scene understandably mirrorsReturn of the Jedi ’s ending , yet it limited itself to the appearances of Luke and Leia only . Anakin Skywalker ’s appearance beside the Skywalker twins is somethingStar Warsnever got to show , and it could have happened inThe Rise of Skywalker .

Any closing to the Skywalker Saga would never be staring without Anakin Skywalker . Star warfare : The lift of Skywalkertries to tie all three trilogies into one coherent stopping point , but the picture show ’s spot in the Skywalker Saga asked for an Anakin cameo . TheStar Warssequel trilogy happened at a clip when Disney ’s Lucasfilm was still trying to outstrip itself from the prequels , but the reception toObi - Wan Kenobiproves that there was always room for bequest prequel actor like Hayden Christensen to reprise theirStar Warsroles .

Next : Star Wars Confirms Why Anakin ’s Force Ghost Did n’t Return In The Sequels

Emperor Palpatine laughing maniacally in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

A split image of Ben Solo in The Rise of Skywalker to the left and Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith to the right

Rise of Skywalker’s Mustafar and Kylo Ren

The memory of Han speaks to Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in The Rise Of Skywalker

Rey wields her blue lightsaber at the end of Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker

Daisy Ridley as Rey, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and Carrie Fisher as Leia in Star Wars Rise of Skywalker

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