Hayden Christensen, Hollywood's Hottest New Star & Movie Mogul!

“Hayden Christensen, Hollywood’s Hottest New Star & Movie Mogul!”
By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright June 10, 2005-All Rights Reserved

With “Star Wars Episode III, Revenge Of The Sith” taking over the film galaxy worldwide, breaking box office records and devouring all other summer 2005 films in its wake, it is a wonderful thing to see George Lucas’ 6th and final episode in the “Star Wars” saga, and the 3rd in the infamous prequels, boast substance over style. The great storytelling of the original trilogy is back, along with esteemed actors Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee…and the lustrous performance of the intense Hayden Christensen.

Reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) from “Star Wars Episode II, Attack Of The Clones”, Christensen has proven his mettle as an actor of depth, range and power, imbuing Anakin’s fall from grace and turn to the dark side with the conviction, darkness, and enigmatic complexity of a man torn between what his insightful mind knows is the right thing to do, and what his passionate heart tells him that he MUST do.

In exploring and conveying, ever so subtly the inner tortured soul of Anakin’s conflicted, tormented psyche, Christensen nails the part in a way that is assuredly satisfying both critics and fans alike of the beloved “Star Wars” franchise…while continuing to uphold its mythology by effectively tying up the final loose ends to what is behind, what motivates, and what becomes of the fractured man (Anakin), behind the black mask (Vader).

But Christensen is no newbie to thespian challenges and has been acting for much of his mere 24 years, taking on films, TV, and the stage. A native of Vancouver, Canada, raised in Toronto, Canada, Christensen discovered his calling by sheer serendipity. His older sister had already caught the acting bug and had been cast in a Pringles commercial. Little brother Hayden, only seven years old at the time, came along with her when she was interviewing talent agents…and guess who wound up being coincidentally scouted?

Hayden took this as the cue for “the force” so to speak, that was in the stars for him. More Hollywood than galactic, but stars all the same were laying in wait for Hayden, who took his good fortune seriously and without any doubt to the path that had been paved his way. He then confidently set about to hone his level of skill and ability, as well as to peruse quality roles that he wanted to challenge and likewise, to challenge him and his craft.. Beginning with a run of work in Canadian Television, Hayden made Los Angeles, USA his second home and scored a role in the 1994 film, “In The Mouth Of Madness”. A small part, but a start of things to come.

From there came 1995’s “Harrison Bergeron”, the TV dramatization of romance novelist’s “Danielle Steel’s No Greater Love” in 1996, and 2000’s made for TV film, “Trapped In A Purple Haze.” But 1999, brought Christensen a role in acclaimed Director Sofia Coppola’s (daughter of Francis Ford Coppola), equally lauded “The Virgin Suicides.” People were taking notice of the young Canadian, especially after the theatrical film was screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

2000 was Hayden’s year, bringing him the breakthrough role of a teenager grappling with the aftermath of being molested by his stepmother in the Fox Family Channel TV series “Higher Ground”. Christensen not only wowed audiences…a certain film Director and Jedi master had taken notice of the young actor as well. George Lucas was holding open auditions for the lead role of young Anakin Skywalker for both “Star Wars” Episode II, and Episode III. Christensen was invited to the casting call, and despite being in the running with such high profile young stars as Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Phillippe, Christensen proved himself to be a uniquely talented actor as well as a star poised and steady on the horizon. Hayden was undaunted at auditioning among some 400 candidates for the role. Lucas was captivated by his fresh talent and creative gifts and offered Hayden the part, some might say of a lifetime.

While waiting for production to begin on “Attack Of The Clones”, rather than resting on his laurels, Christensen earned more of them, with his next enigmatic role, which some might view as the dramatic, reality precursor to the science fiction, fantasy of “Star Wars” and its protagonist/antagonist, Anakin Skywalker. Hayden gave a bravura starring performance in the 2001 family drama film, “Life As A House” garnering critical acclaim among heavyweights Kevin Kline, Mary Steenburgen, and Kristin Scott Thomas. As the wounded, troubled Sam, the son of Kline’s terminally ill George, and a member of a family going through more than its share of issues and tragedy, Hayden nearly walked away with the film in a modern day James Dean meets Goth teen turn. The Golden Globes, often considered the next step to the Academy Awards, honored Hayden with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

2002 saw Hayden’s turn in “Star Wars Episode II, Attack Of The Clones”. Posing as both a blessing and a curse, the film offered him a golden opportunity to star in a major blockbuster film, part of a legendary film series, and co-star aside the esteemed ensemble of Ewan McGregor, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McDiarmid, Natalie Portman, Jimmy Smits, and Christopher Lee. But fans of the original trilogy and critics alike took issue with Lucas’ weak script and tepid dialogue and directing. Unfortunately, much of the fallout fell directly and without warrant, on Christensen, who bore the brunt and took much of a critical beating for realizing Anakin’s first burst on screen as a whining, petulant brat of a teenager that seemed more at home on “Beverly Hills 90210” or “One Tree Hill” than in a legendary film anthology. But Lucas himself, candidly took responsibility for the criticism heaped on Christensen. Lucas also confessed that Hayden had been frustrated in what was Lucas’s own insistence that the actor intentionally play down the darker potential Christensen wanted and knew that he could bring to Anakin, and thus Lucas instead had Hayden portray Skywalker as a typical annoying teen.

To his credit, Hayden’s own talent shined through what Lucas had given him to work with, via the actor’s genuine charm, warmth, and exuberance of Anakin as a Jedi Knight in training and as a handsome, winsome hero beautifully underplaying the delicate balance to and joys of falling in love, winning the heart of Portman’s Padme Amidala (along with scores of enthralled audiences).

Christensen then awed the movers and shakers of movieland, when at merely 21 years old, just as he had taken what material he had with “Clones”, and fashioned it into something substantial and lasting, the young actor became an industry and business savvy provocateur by launching his own Los Angeles based film and television production company along with his brother Tove, Forest Park Pictures. Using the leverage and buzz of his role in “Star Wars”, Christensen secured a 2 year, first look production deal with Warner Brothers’ owned New Line Cinema to much heralding by New Line Cinema production President Toby Emmerich.

In 2003, with Tove sitting in the producer’s seat, Hayden optioned the rights to, and starred in the lead role of “Shattered Glass”, the film portrayal of real life disgraced journalist Stephen Glass who initially won praise at The New Republic Newspaper as a bright and brash writer, only to be exposed as a con artist, fabricating most of his stories. Hayden won over any critical naysayers with his brilliant performance, capturing the cunning, beguiling essence of an over zealous, overconfident, smug snake who tarnished the credibility and integrity of journalism.

But Hayden also started new industry buzz with his stellar business and artistic judgment, collaring and producing an intelligent, smartly written, character driven film. "Shattered Glass" had people talking about and referencing Hayden and his brother Tove, as two creative conscious and business savvy hotshot film producers and independent filmmakers, poised to become two movie mogul brothers, who will be rolling out crafted cinematic works of artistic excellence.

Which brings us up to June 2005, with “Star Wars Episode III, Revenge Of The Sith”. Since opening May 19, the film has broken nearly every box office record, with premieres in London, New York, L.A. and oh yes, at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. Christensen, as well as Lucas, and the film’s cast were in attendance at each and every premiere.

And wouldn’t you know, at this year’s 2005 Cannes Film Festival, who was regularly seen schmoozing like a seasoned, veteran pro at Cannes…with many film industry big wigs? Hayden Christensen, that’s who, as he hob knobbed and rubbed shoulders with many compatriot international indie filmmakers along the Riviera. Hayden was working the industry crowd with smarts, finesse, charisma, elegance, sophistication, and class, like the movie industry insider he is, as well as a soon to be, film industry big wig himself.

Just around May 18, Hayden and Tove signed a new multi-picture distribution deal with major player, Bauer Martinez Distribution, and Hayden has been playing mum about a TV series Forest Park Pictures currently has in development. And with all this mover & shaker goings on, Hayden still is turning out to be the hardest working actor/businessman/movie mogul in La La Land, when he stars in Director Barry Levinson’s upcoming new film “Sixty Six”, part of Levinson’s Baltimore anthology.

Amazingly, George Lucas himself, started out in the 1970’s with colleagues Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola as the new breed of filmmakers and moguls who realized their vision of filmmaking.

Now, in 2005, Hayden Christensen, actor, star, auteur, producer, movie and TV production company chief…perhaps Director someday too, is the young gun that is both Hollywood’s brightest star and its newest hope and champion for the successful future of independent film and television production.

By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright June 10, 2005-All Rights Reserved