Star Wars Castmates Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson Surprise Fans at Revenge of the Sith Screening
A special 20th-anniversary screening of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles took an unexpected turn on Friday when castmates Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson made a surprise appearance. The event, which was attended by fans dressed in their finest Star Wars attire, was a celebration of the film’s enduring legacy. According to Entertainment Weekly, the screening was a memorable experience for all in attendance.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Christensen took to the stage first, wielding a red lightsaber and reminiscing about the making of the film. "I have so many amazing memories of making this film," he said. "I see a lot of lightsabers out here. I see a lot of red lightsabers, which, truth be told, is my personal favourite lightsaber colour." The audience was delighted by Christensen’s introduction, and it was clear that the film still holds a special place in the hearts of Star Wars fans.
The evening took an exciting turn when Jackson made his entrance, interrupting Christensen’s speech with his iconic voice. "Hold on, Skywalker," Jackson said from offstage. "This party ain’t even over." Christensen then introduced his former co-star, and Jackson took to the stage to thunderous applause. "This is so, so, so awesome," he said. "Twenty years later, I can hardly believe that we’re still as popular — as happenin’ — as we are. I haven’t seen Hayden in a while, but so, so, so happy to come back, see him, and see all of you at the same time. Thank you all so much. We had a great time making the film down in Australia. We were hangin’ out, doin’ stuff."
As Entertainment Weekly reported, Jackson also joked about his character’s infamous death scene in the film, in which Mace Windu meets his untimely end after unsuccessfully trying to arrest Palpatine and getting hurled out a window in Coruscant. "I hope you enjoy the effort that went into this and watching me do my ‘I move almost all backwards’ fight with Palpatine," Jackson said. "Before my unexpected exit. And for the record — Mace lives!" This comment is particularly noteworthy, as Jackson has previously expressed interest in reprising the role for a Disney+ series.
It’s worth noting that Jackson has been vocal about his character’s potential return, declaring "he’s not dead!!!" in an Empire story in 2024. While Windu remains canonically dead, Jackson’s enthusiasm for the character’s potential resurrection is clear. As Entertainment Weekly noted, Jackson’s voice can be heard in an audio cameo as Windu’s unseen ghost in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.
The evening concluded with Jackson and Christensen bidding the audience farewell, saying in unison, "May the Force be with you." Christensen has recently confirmed that he will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka season 2, following his appearances in the show’s first season and the 2022 series Obi-Wan Kenobi. The enduring popularity of Star Wars and its characters is clear, and events like this screening demonstrate the lasting impact of the franchise on fans worldwide.
The surprise appearance by Christensen and Jackson was a memorable moment for fans of the franchise, and it’s clear that the cast’s enthusiasm for the Star Wars universe remains strong. As Entertainment Weekly reported, the event was a celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, and it’s clear that Revenge of the Sith remains a beloved entry in the Star Wars saga.
