GeraldStar Wars Celebration Japan 2025 continues to deliver surprise moments for fans, as during the panel for the upcoming second season of Ahsoka, set to begin production next week, Hayden Christensen (Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith) took to the stage and announced his return as Anakin Skywalker for the Disney+ streaming series, to the loud cheers of fans.
The announcement capped off a panel which started off with series creator Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), executive producer Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian, The Jungle Book), and lead star Rosario Dawson (Daredevil).
As fans entered the hall, the stage only had three seats set-up for Filoni, Favreau, and Dawson, but midway though the panel, following a brief clip featuring Anakin and Ahsoka on screen, Christensen stepped onto the stage to enthusiastic applause. His return, teased throughout the session, was announced near the end of the panel.
“There’s not much I can share, but Anakin will be back for season two,” he told the cheering crowd, appearing visibly overwhelmed by the resounding response.
Christensen famously played the future Darth Vader in 2002 and 2005’s Star Wars prequel films, and stepped away from the Star Wars universe before making his return as Anakin and Vader in the 2022 Disney+ streaming series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He subsequently returned for two episodes in 2023’s Ahsoka as the Force Ghost of Anakin, to great enthusiasm of fans, some of whom were critical of his initial entry to the galaxy far, far away at the turn of the century.
Along with previous year’s Celebration event, Christensen has become one of the standout attractions, as his return to the Star Wars universe has made him a central figure at the event. He has drawn some of the longest lines for autograph signings and photo ops, with prices reflecting that demand. A photo session with Christensen costs approximately US$208, making him the highest-priced guest at the event, with the next closest being Dawson, who plays the live-action version of Anakin’s former padawan, Ahsoka, who has an asking price of US$181.
Set after the fall of the Empire, the first season of Ahsoka follows former Jedi Ahsoka Tano as she searches for Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi, King Richard) and confronts the growing threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, House of Cards).
She is joined by Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo, The Society) and Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), with the group journeying to the distant world of Peridea. Along the way, they encounter powerful Force users Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno, Pacific Rim: Uprising) and Baylan Skoll, played by the late Ray Stevenson (Thor), who passed before the show premiered. At the panel, it was also announced that Game of Thrones‘ actor Rory McCann would step in to play evil Jedi Baylan Skol.
One of Season 1’s most talked-about moments saw Ahsoka step into the World Between Worlds, a mysterious realm where she confronts her past and reconnects with her former master.
At the heart of Ahsoka lies her bond with Anakin Skywalker. First introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, their relationship as Master and Padawan shaped the emotional arc of both characters across animated and live-action stories. Though Ahsoka walked away from the Jedi Order, her connection to Anakin remains central. Their reunion in the World Between Worlds offered a powerful turning point, allowing Ahsoka to reconcile with the past and grow beyond it.Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 also brought news on other major projects across the galaxy. These included the title and release date reveal for Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling’s standalone Star Wars film, and the debut teaser for The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!
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