The Star Wars prequel trilogy is legendary for its intense lightsaber duels, but fans just learned about a surprising guest who witnessed the greatest battle in the franchise’s history. During a recent appearance at Fan Expo New Orleans, Hayden Christensen shared an incredible “behind-the-scenes” story involving Hollywood icon Robert De Niro.
An Unexpected Guest on Mustafar
While filming the iconic final battle between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi for Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the cast noticed a familiar face near the monitors. Robert De Niro had dropped by the set—not to see the actors, but to see the filmmaking magic of George Lucas.
Hayden Christensen recalled the surreal moment:
“I remember during one of the days that we were filming that fight, Robert De Niro showed up to set… I remember just standing with Ewan [McGregor], and Ewan says to me, ‘Is that Robert De Niro standing over there?'”
The “Method” Connection
Beyond just watching, De Niro actually shared a professional tip with Christensen. To keep his heart rate up and maintain the physical exhaustion required for the high-stakes scene, Hayden would perform sets of push-ups right before the cameras rolled.
De Niro noticed this and approached the young actor, saying, “I see you doing push-ups before the takes. I do that, too.“ For Christensen, receiving validation from one of the greatest actors of all time was a “feel-good” moment he never forgot.
Ewan McGregor’s Humiliating Encounter
Ewan McGregor also remembers the visit, though his experience was a bit more “dizzying.” McGregor revealed that when he first spotted De Niro, he was actually strapped to a spinning prop for a green-screen stunt.
“My prop guy hadn’t stopped turning me around,” McGregor laughed. “As I was turning, I saw De Niro behind the monitor. I was like, ‘It’s too late. He’s here!'” McGregor later joked that meeting his hero while spinning uncontrollably on a disc was one of the most “humiliating” moments of his career.
What’s Next for Hayden Christensen?
The bond between the Star Wars cast and the fans remains stronger than ever. Following his acclaimed return in the Ahsoka series, Christensen is confirmed to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2, which is currently in development.
Source: MovieWeb
