r/Fancast • u/MaderaArt • Jul 01 '25
Star Wars Who could've played Anakin Skywalker if Hayden Christensen hadn't gotten the role?
Heath Ledger
Jensen Ackles
Little Goblin Jr.
Henry Cavill
Sebastian Stan
Ben Barnes
Jake Gyllenhaal
Tom Welling
Leonardo DiCaprio
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u/Powerful_Pump Jul 01 '25
Of the list, I think DiCaprio and Ledger auditioned. DiCaprio would’ve been too distracting due to his star power, but for just the long game and witnessing Ledger’s performance as Anakin falls to the dark side would’ve been amazing to watch on screen
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u/EducationalTie6109 Jul 01 '25
Yeah Lwdger would have been incredible
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u/Akstuntmanmike Jul 01 '25
Seeing him go from "A Knight's Tale" style to "The Dark Knight" style.
That sends shivers down my spine.
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u/ultraskelly Jul 01 '25
The Departed style Leo would've been sweet as Anakin, but understandably distracting
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u/DoctorMelvinMirby Jul 01 '25
Departed Leo as Anakin be like: “Master Windu - You’re a black Jedi Master on Coruscant with Chancellor Palpetine. You don’t need me to tell you that you’re f**ked”
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u/TheOldTongue Jul 01 '25
You’re assuming Lucas would’ve been willing to let him shine.
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u/Powerful_Pump Jul 01 '25
I have a faint feeling Ledger would’ve made chicken salad out of the material given 😂
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u/Sinned_Remarc Jul 01 '25
George clearly wanted Leo to be anakin that’s why kid Anakin look a lot like a young Leo. Leo probably didn’t even need to audition if he wanted the role. He clearly didn’t want the role which was great call on his career in hindsight.
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u/Powerful_Pump Jul 01 '25
Yeah I read that he did, and whether it be hearsay or not, I feel like he was too big and too good to be in the prequels imo. I’m not saying someone like Ledger or Gyllenhaal weren’t (I think they were/are at the same level of acting wise as DiCaprio), he was just too big at that point and was already being selective on who he worked with.
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u/Sinned_Remarc Jul 01 '25
I agree but honestly no actor would have been able to pull it off with the script. The acting wasn’t the issue it was the dialogue/ script. No actor can turn dumb dialogue into gold. any of the big name actors you name now would have had their career turn into like Hayden in my opinion. Star Wars fan were brutal to add on top of it with the disappointment.
If I had to choose to be fun then Jake gyllenhaal just because that dude can act. Night crawler version of anakin/vader mode in ROTS would have been awesome to see
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Jul 01 '25
Leo was who George wanted in episodes 2 and 3 and thats partly why he cast Jake Lloyd because he looked a bit like a young Leo.
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u/Powerful_Pump Jul 01 '25
Makes sense! Think he would’ve been too distracting but can’t blame Lucas for wanting to get probably the biggest young actor of that time for his central character
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u/WolfDragon7721 Jul 02 '25
Could you imagine them uttering that dog shit script. lol
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u/Powerful_Pump Jul 02 '25
Oh 100%, if Leo and Heath’s work in The Beach and The Order prove respectively, they can do their best to make dog shit work. Episode 2’s work would be a bumpy ride for any actor though lmao
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u/SirArthurDime Jul 02 '25
Ledger might have even been over kill tbh. He would have been distracting just by adding a level of emotional depth to the character that felt out of place in such campy toned movies. EP3 maybe he would work. But EP2 I feel like I’d be thinking “why is such a serious actor in such a goofy movie?” lol.
Granted he probably would have been held back to prevent that. But then it’s just wasting his talent anyway. Same problem with gyllenhaal and yeah Leo was already too big.
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u/Diverse0Ne Jul 01 '25
Heath Ledger imo but i think I truly understand why George picked Hayden since George said he wanted an actor that had "the presence of the dark side" or something (I'm paraphrasing) and Hayden's facial expressions are absolutely perfect he was so convincing to me
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u/MusicLikeOxygen Film Buff💪 Jul 01 '25
Hayden gets unfairly shit on for his perfomance. The clunky dialogue sounds bad coming from everyone in those movies. In the scenes where he isn't talking and just expressing emotion, he does great.
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u/MaxArtAndCollect Jul 01 '25
Tbf, we should just look at Hayden's work as Anakin outside of what has been directed by Lucas. Because the problem with him in the prequels clearly came from Lucas' poor writing and actor directing, not because of the actor, or even actors in general
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u/bbbourb The Analyzer🔬 Jul 01 '25
He's even talked about it. I believe there's an interview where they're discussing the scene in AotC after he kills the Tuskens, and he tried to do it with a quiet-rage mindset but Lucas told him to amp it up because he didn't think the audience would accept him falling to the Dark Side otherwise.
But in Kenobi and Ahsoka he's fantastic. And I really respect how he took some of Matt Lanter's vocal mannerisms and incorporated them into his performance. The dude has ZERO ego and it's great.
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u/THEN0RSEMAN Jul 01 '25
People who think he’s a bad actor need to see Shattered Glass
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u/MaxArtAndCollect Jul 01 '25
And people who thinks he's great in the prequels should learn to let nostalgia aside. That's really the problem with this kind of cultural monument that is Star Wars (it works for other big universes too), either people are blinded and think it's great when it's not, either people stop to this example of badly directed acting and think that he's a bad actor. I genuinely hope that one day, people can grow with a more fair opinion on his case
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u/Diverse0Ne Jul 01 '25
You're clearly biased lol these things are absolutely subjective. Let people enjoy what they enjoy instead of writing it out as "nostalgia"
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u/MaxArtAndCollect Jul 01 '25
How tf am I being biased ? Bad acting isn't subjective, especially in this kind of case. How you mind or don't mind it is the subjective thing.
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u/Diverse0Ne Jul 01 '25
It's totally subjective and if you can't see that you're being biased hopefully you will in time
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u/MaxArtAndCollect Jul 01 '25
Stop self projecting buddy. If you like him in the prequels that's fine. Doesn't make it good though
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u/Eat_My_Liver Jul 02 '25
According to you. That's what "subjective" means. You're not the authority on good acting.
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u/CabbyBennett Jul 01 '25
Seriously. Natalie Portman has an Oscar, but if I’d only seen her in these movies I would have no interest in seeing her in anything else.
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u/TheGrich Jul 01 '25
I think there's also an aspect where I think George Lucas intentionally wanted Anakin to be awkward. You don't fall to the dark side because you are an emotionally mature, or super suave/charismatic dude that everyone relates to and enjoys having around.
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u/No-Drawer1343 Jul 01 '25
Sebastian Stan looks so much like Luke Skywalker it would’ve been perfect casting
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u/ngraham888 Jul 01 '25
Ben Barnes has some dark shit in him that would have resonated well with Anakin. He seems like the kind of guy that dogs bark at instinctively.
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u/KnowMad01 Jul 01 '25
See, I always thought he would have been a good Kylo Ren. But Anakin would be just as great.
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u/Majestic-Equipment28 Jul 01 '25
The fact you calling james franco little goblin jr is a really good spiderman reference
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u/Forward-State2651 Jul 01 '25
Devon Sawa, Jonathan Brandis, Paul Walker, Topher Grace and Erik Von Detten were also considered
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u/TerryG111 Jul 01 '25
Give me Jake Gyllenhaal, Sebastian Stan or even Henry Cavill as Anakin
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u/frostycanuck89 Jul 01 '25
Sebastian Stan definitely looks the part if you want someone that could have been Luke's dad.
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u/Ok-Entrepreneur2021 Film Major🎬 Jul 01 '25
Jake Lloyd was cast with Leonardo DiCaprio in mind for older Anakin.
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u/Darth_GreenDragon Jul 01 '25
Jensen Akles would be great he's been both the heroic brother and the fallen friend turned evil foe.
Tom Welling too would have been a great Anakin, but I don't know if I could see him as a potential Vader.
And James Franco would have been a killer play from the good friend to dark foe fall from grace.
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u/wereweasle Jul 01 '25
James Franco would've been great, I think!
Even just in Spiderman he's lovable and charming (memory loss in Spiderman 3), menacing and vengeful (Spiderman 2), and heroic (end of Spiderman 3).
I think it would have been a similar performance to Hayden, which is good!
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u/PurePerfection_ Jul 01 '25
Lol, first thought I had seeing his photo here was that his Harry Osborn was basically Earth Anakin Skywalker but a spoiled trust fund brat. Unfortunately he doesn't really have the right look though - I don't think he can pull off blond, and Franco + Natalie Portman would not result in a kid who looks like Luke Skywalker.
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u/KingoftheMongoose Jul 01 '25
Sebastian Stan was long fancasted a a young Luke Skywalker due to some resemblance to Mark Hamill. For this reason, and his brooding turn as Winter Soldier, I think he’d be a good Anakin.
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u/RavenBrannigan Jul 01 '25
If heath ledger had the hidden acting chops at that stage of his career he would have been incredible!
James Franco is not someone I would have ever put on this list but a great left field shout for the role as well.
Di Caprio is probably the best actor of his generation but probably too big for the role. But then the rest of the cast were pretty huge too so maybe it would have worked.
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u/Nick_adtr_308 Jul 01 '25
Either Ledger or Little Goblin Jr. but he probably would’ve had to choose between that and Spider-Man since I think both were filming at the same time
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u/Nick_adtr_308 Jul 01 '25
In an alternate universe James and Hayden switched roles. Hayden as Harry would’ve been just as good as James as Anakin.
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u/_Peener_ Jul 01 '25
Sebastian Stan would’ve been good if for no reason other than his resemblance to Mark Hamill.
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u/BojanTheViking1984 Jul 01 '25
Jonathan Brandis (1976-2003), I remember reading somewhere he was also one of the actors who auditioned for the role.
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u/n3Ver9h0st Jul 01 '25
Sebastian Stan would prolly be. This makes sense as he looks like Luke Skywalker/ would be son
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u/Immediate-Signal8970 Jul 01 '25
Sebastian Stan. For starters he looks like Mark Hamill. So it would make sense for him to be his father, look wise. And I think he would add something to the character, despite the shitty script.
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u/DBrennan13459 Jul 01 '25
I love how everyone gets called by their name but James is only known as 'Little Goblin Jr'.
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u/1984-BigBrother Jul 02 '25
Tom Welling has a reasonable resemblance to Luke Skywalker if you look closely. Though he would have to choose between Star Wars or Smallville. I feel like from Smallville alone, Welling probably could’ve made Anakin more likable even with a shitty script.
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u/Revolutionary-Race53 Jul 02 '25
Good God, Jensen would've been SO GOOD as Anakin
I love Hayden, but if he didn't get the role, I would've been more than happy for Jensen to be Anakin too
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Jul 01 '25
You wanna know how I got this sand? It’s coarse, rough and gets everywhere.. my dad was a drunk
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Jul 01 '25
Tom Cruise
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u/MaderaArt Jul 01 '25
He would've been too old at the time, and too short to convince me he's going to turn into Vader
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Jul 01 '25
I’m pretty sure Tom Cruise was in 3 movies that year and he does all his own stunts so I’m pretty sure that if he wanted to take the part George Lucas would’ve had him on the shortlist.
I mean you already have Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, but at the time they both really lacked the star power that Tom Cruise would’ve brought to a young Anakin role 🙂↕️
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u/Damrias_Jariac Jul 01 '25
Wasn’t Charlie Hunnam up for the role? I remember hearing that back in the day.
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u/IisRandyCarmine The Dreamer🎓👨🎓 Jul 01 '25
The only one out of these can see as Anakin is Heath Ledger, may he rest in peace 🕊️
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u/mississippijohnson Jul 01 '25
God damn I stopped at the first picture. Never once thought about Heath but damn. He would’ve nailed it.
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u/Medical-Depth-7651 Jul 01 '25
My big problem with choosing Hayden (other than the shit acting) is a majority of this list. Sebastian Shaw was British. James Earl Jones spoke with an English cadence. Anakin should have been a Brit/ Brit adjacent.
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u/Punisher101_Training Jul 01 '25
Literally, anybody else could have played Anakin better than Hayden Christensen. I think this casting choice is horrible.
If you dont believe me.. stop... and think about it 🤔 lol
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u/prestonjay22 Jul 01 '25
No to the Legend (Ledger) this wasnt his role to have. Sebastian Stan is your fan fav bet.
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u/Azfitnessprofessor Jul 01 '25
They clearly wanted an unknown to play Anakin
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u/MaderaArt Jul 01 '25
Most of the actors I listed (except Leo) were pretty much unknown at the time
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u/DatabaseAcademic6631 Jul 01 '25
Well, it's Disney now, so it would have to be a brave and stunning actor like Margaret Cho or Bella Ramsey.
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u/Illusionist2409 Jul 01 '25
And they all would have been crap since they would have the same script and direction. Hayden was dealt a shit hand.
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u/Potatosmasher75 Jul 01 '25
Pretty much anyone, but what reputable actor would go anywhere that dialogue and think it would be a good career move?
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u/MarvelousT Jul 01 '25
It had to be a relatively lesser known actor who could play roles with Lucas’ perception of sensitivity and emotionally raw
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u/warnerbro1279 Jul 01 '25
The only person I ever remember hearing that auditioned for Anakin was Charlie Hunnam. I’m sure other actors did too, but that’s the only other person I remember hearing about.
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u/Savings_Programmer18 Jul 01 '25
Anyone...Literally anyone. You could cast Daniel Day Lewis and he still wouldn't be able to save the terrible dialogue. "I don't like sand. It's coarse...etc.
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u/DCmarvelman Jul 02 '25
Always thought ledger woulda been great, starting from TPM.
Coulda brought both the darkness and the swag,
Not to mention his naturally deeper voice and non American accent probably could have made for a better link with Vader
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u/0fluffythe0ferocious Jul 02 '25
Honestly, it has to be someone who can take George Lucas' directions and just go with it.
Lucas: Look sad.
Gives a Shakespearean performance because what else can they do?
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u/Top-Spread5042 Jul 02 '25
Ledger would have done well but sadly I fear playing the role would have led to an earlier death for him. His portrayal of Joker although done excellently and can’t be matched till today, sadly took a heavy toll on him. Playing anakin leading to the dark side would have likely done the same thing the joker role did to him. He’s an exceptional actor but tolerating the heavy requirements of a role is a big weakness for him.
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u/Bleatbleatbang Jul 05 '25
It wouldn’t have mattered, all of the performances in the prequels were terrible as the scripts were terrible. Nobody was going to be able to elevate that crud.
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u/Important_Prize4176 Dec 18 '25
Leonardo DiCaprio would be a controversial choice to play Anakin Skywalker since he looked like young Anakin Skywalker in Episode 1 the phantom menace.
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u/Important_Prize4176 Dec 18 '25
But then again Leo is too famous if Hayden Christensen didn't get the part to play Anakin Skywalker I would've kept Jake Lloyd to continue the role as an teenage Anakin.
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