Hayden Christensen Says a Burglar Recognized Him and Gave His Stuff Back
This is where the fun ends.
Hayden Christensen has had plenty of unusual fan encounters over the years, but this one easily wins. Speaking on stage at L.A. Comic Con, as reported by The Nerd Wire, the Anakin Skywalker actor said a burglar once recognized him in the middle of robbing his house, apologized and gave his things back (IGN).
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What actually happened?
Christensen said the incident happened years ago. He was upstairs when he heard the front door open, and when he went downstairs to investigate, a man was standing there holding his belongings. "I'm like, is this a delivery guy?" Christensen remembered. "And I look and I'm like, this is all my stuff."
The man immediately recognized him, apologized and handed everything back. According to Christensen, the man was struggling for money and was trying to get enough together to buy a ticket home (IGN).
How did Christensen respond?
This is the part that gets us, because Christensen gave the man clothes and shoes so he'd have something to wear to job interviews. He then offered to personally drive him to the train station the next day and buy his ticket home.
Unfortunately, the man never showed up, so we'll never know how that conversation in the car would have gone (IGN). Still, that's a very Jedi way to handle a break-in, and a lot calmer than how Anakin handled most things in Revenge of the Sith. (He did not, for the record, say he hates sand.)
When is Hayden back as Anakin?
Christensen first played Anakin in 2002's Attack of the Clones, then returned for Revenge of the Sith in 2005 and a voice cameo in The Rise of Skywalker. He came back in 2022's Obi-Wan Kenobi and again in Ahsoka in 2023, where Anakin trained Ahsoka one last time in the World Between Worlds.
Lucasfilm confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that he'll return in Ahsoka Season 2, which hits Disney+ on January 20, 2027. He told IGN he feels even more connected to Anakin now "because I've had more time to think about him and sort of try to understand him."
My read is that this story explains why fans have gotten so much warmer toward Christensen over the past few years. The prequel criticism was harsh for a long time, and he's handled all of it with the same kind of grace he showed that burglar. That's a big part of why fans are genuinely excited to see more of him in Season 2.
If you want to revisit his best Anakin moments before Ahsoka returns, this is the definitive place to start.
What's your favorite Hayden Christensen moment? Tell us in the comments.
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Header image is an official still from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, from Lucasfilm. In-article images are official stills from Ahsoka and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, from Lucasfilm.
