“I’m sorry for how it happened”: Hayden Christensen had to yell at a child for this scene, and he didn’t apologize until years later.

His return to the Star Wars universe, between appearances as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka, allowed fans to reconnect with Hayden Christensen, the young Anakin who an entire generation saw fall to the dark side in favor of the notoriously Dark Feared Vader.

In a portrait produced by Empire magazine, the actor recalls his experience in the star-studded saga and especially the scene from Episode III – Revenge of the Sith that is forever etched in his memory…

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From the Battle of Coruscant to the Duel in the Fire of Mustafar: Many of the scenes in the latter part of George Lucas’ 2000s prequel were really difficult to film. However, one scene proved to be a particular challenge. Hint: Order 66.

Yes, in the darkest hours of Star Wars, Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) orders the destruction of all Jedi, including the young apprentices of the temple, a difficult task that he entrusted to his new apprentice, Darth Vader-in-training, once. Innocent Anakin, increasingly violent. What follows is carnage.

Anakin kills all the young men who believed they found their savior in him. When asked what effect this sequence has on the children he meets today at conventions or on the street, the actor said:Children seem to forget this scene when they meet me! There is no fear or intimidation. They’re just excited to meet Anakin.”

But the scene, especially for a dark saga, was discussed during production.

“There was a lot of discussion about whether we should have done that scene or not, and I’m very happy that George Lucas chose to do it. It was a bold choice. And it’s shocking“, said the actor, who refused to show his 8-year-old daughter movies a few months ago.

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however, Hayden Christensen He had to go to great lengths to get the desired reaction from one of the children in particular, little Ross Beadman, the Padawan interpreter, who approaches Anakin and pleads for help for him and his fellow refugees. The boy was just six at the time – and was paid £90 (around €100) for the role, as he recently revealed!

The goal: to scare him. Hayden Christensen He had to find a way to make things more dangerous so that the boy’s reaction would be appropriate.

“During filming, we tried to get the reaction we wanted from the child. So I yelled or growled at him because we needed a real surprise moment. We got the response we needed and it makes this scene work really well. But this poor child!“

WheneverHayden Christensen Seeing Ross Beadman again years later, he took the opportunity to apologize for literally shouting at him!

“Yes, I saw it again years later. I said to him, “I apologize for this way.”“

To rewatch the scene in question, head over to Disney+, where the prologue — and the entire saga — can be resurfaced exclusively.