Hayden Christensen’s time as Anakin Skywalker has produced some of the most iconic moments in the entirety of the Star Wars franchise. His portrayal of this character has gone down in history as one of the most treasured and well-done.

This high stature, naturally, did not come easy as the actor had to embody some very ugly emotions and do some very uncomfortable things to give his best performance as a shadow of what Darth Vader used to be.

Hayden Christensen in Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
Among the very unfortunate things, seemed to also be terrifying children. During an interview, Christensen talked about one of the most iconic scenes from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, revealing that he had to traumatize children so that they could get the perfect shot. The actor felt so bad about doing this that he apologized to one of them years later.

The Most Iconic Scene From Revenge of the Sith Was A Big Gamble

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, as a whole, was an extremely memorable film for more than one reason, being an excellent insight into Anakin Skywalker’s character and also a cinematic masterpiece. However, there is one scene that stands out, not only from the film but also from the franchise as a whole; the part where Anakin slaughters the younglings at the Jedi Temple.

Hayden Christensen in Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
The scene not only left the viewers in shock but also left an eerie silence in its wake, forcing fans to wonder at what they have just witnessed. During an interview with Empire, Hayden Christensen spoke on exactly this, giving more details about what was going on behind the scenes of the massacre.
Hayden Christensen in Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
“There was a lot of talk about us doing that scene, and I love that George did it. It was a bold move. And it’s shocking.” said Christensen.
He revealed that there was a lot of conversation surrounding these scenes, which is not surprising considering just how big of a leap it was. They understood how bold it was and Christensen applauded director, George Lucas, for taking such a drastic step. However, executing the scene was a lot more complicated than it looked on paper.

Hayden Christensen Had To Use Drastic Measures

Hayden Christensen went on to reveal that while the scene was excellent on paper, they were finding it difficult to get the proper reactions from the child actors on set. This is no shock as faking being terror-stricken at that young age would certainly be a challenge. It was here that the actor had the perfect idea.
Hayden Christensen in Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
“When we were filming that, we were having a hard time getting the reaction that we wanted from the kid. And so I shouted, or growled at him, because we needed a genuine moment of him being startled.” said Christensen.

While Christensen’s plan worked well and the shots were perfect, his conscious could not cope with what he had just done. While the children were too young to remember him shouting and growling at them, the actor couldn’t help but feel horrible for scaring them that much.
Hayden Christensen in Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
“Kids seem to forget about that scene when they meet me! There’s not any fear or intimidation. They’re just excited to meet Anakin.” he went on, “I saw him years later. I said, “Sorry about how that went.”
The actor revealed that he saw one of these children at one point many years later. Interestingly enough, he was so guilty about what he had done that Christensen apologized for yelling at him when he was younger.