Variety has an awesome interview series called "Actors on Actors" where two actors are paired to interview each other, and the most recent lineup of episodes includes a conversation between Hayden Christensen and Diego Luna, which was published today! Definitely give it a read and join in on discussing what your favorite parts of the interview were.
I loved hearing Luna speak so much about how he looked up to Hayden's work in the prequels and the Obi-Wan series, and how much Hayden enjoyed Andor and Rogue One in return. It's cool to see how both actors' work was informed by Star Wars already existing beforehand—in no small part because both worked on prequels—and in Luna's paraphrasing of Tony Gilroy's ideas, it's intended to apply that way for audiences.
It's heartwarming to know how excited Hayden was to return as Anakin so long after the prequels. His likening of bluescreen acting to his background in theater reminded me a lot of Christopher Lee's words about the same idea and the different acting skills called upon by that stage environment.
On that note, Hayden asked Luna about the experience of being a producer on top of just an actor, and he noted how more involved it was, just like in theater, which I didn't ever think about: "You arrive to a place and you know why it's there." The term "long-format" relates these streaming shows to the films really well, and I liked Luna's phrasing that Andor has "twenty-four" episodes, not "two seasons," as well as Hayden's observations that weekly television gives the audience time to process and understand stories better.
"To be aware that you're a part of something that is bigger than you, I think, is a healthy thing," says Hayden about Star Wars, but I think he's echoing what he's heard for so long from George Lucas about the Force too, which is super cool. He got to bring his daughter to set for his flashback scene with Obi-Wan and keep his lightsaber props! I relate a little too well to getting hit on the knuckles in duels.
The focus on their stories these two actors have been able to tell is really heartfelt because of their own role as fans too, and I loved that they mostly just geeked out with each other. Go watch the interview and discuss what you loved about it!
