Hollywood turned out in force for the world premiere of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens on Monday.
Tonight, the blockbusting seventh entry in the space opera, directed and co-written by JJ Abrams, will have its UK premiere in London’s Leicester Square.
(LucasFilm)
Although The Force Awakens is set 30 years after events in Return of the Jedi, thoughts will invariably turn to Darth Vader, the franchise’s great villain.
We take a look at some of the actors who have portrayed the man formerly known as Anakin Skywalker.
Hayden Christensen
(Arthur Mola/Invision)
The Canadian actor took over one of the most high profile roles in cinema from child actor, Jake Lloyd.
Cast as a teenage Anakin opposite Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman in 2002′s Episode II: Attack of the Clones and 2005′s Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Hayden portrayed the Jedi’s transformation into Darth Vader.
Unfortunately, his performance resulted in two Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies) for Worst Supporting Actor.
While Natalie went on to Oscar glory in Black Swan, Hayden has largely been unable to escape the much-maligned prequels.
His most memorable post-Vader role came in 2006 sci-fi flick, Jumper.
The movie led to a romantic liaison with Jumper co-star Rachel Bilson and the couple are parents to daughter Briar Rose.
Recent films featuring the 34-year-old include American Heist, Outcast and 90 Minutes in Heaven.
There are rumours Hayden may reprise the role of Vader in stand-alone 2016 instalment, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. But at this moment, it is just speculation.
James Earl Jones
(Sylvain Gaboury/AP)
The voice of Vader was already an award-winning star of stage and screen when the original Star Wars movie was being developed by George Lucas.
James had wowed critics with his Tony Award-winning performance as a boxer in 1968 play The Great White Hope. He went on to take the lead in the movie adaptation, picking up a Golden Globe.
The 84-year-old actor has demonstrated his versatility in everything from Shakespearian epics to television dramas and comedies.
His remarkable voice has been lent to the likes of Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King, various audiobooks and to CNN for their ‘This is CNN’ tagline.
In 2005, the veteran star reprised Vader for Revenge of the Sith. He returned to the role nine years later in the first episode of Star Wars Rebels. He will continue voicing Vader in the second season.
David Prowse
(Reed Saxon/AP)
The former body builder was never heard in the original Star Wars movies, but it was his strapping body inside that shiny black Vader suit.
Before the space opera, he was best known as the Green Cross Code Man in a long-running British road safety campaign that spanned the 1970s to the 1990s.
David’s imposing 6’6″ stature was perfect for Vader, but his West Country accent was another matter.
In 2014, he brought back the Green Cross Code Man for a MoreThan road safety campaign targeted at smartphone-addicted adults.
Sebastian Shaw
#starwars Sebastian Shaw as Darth Vader pic.twitter.com/djfadTZJY7
— Classic Star Wars (@ClassicStarWars) March 12, 2015
The veteran Shakespearean actor was already 77 years of age when he appeared in Return of the Jedi.
Remember the damaged face revealed during the unmasking of Darth Vader? It was his.
Originally the Force ghost incarnation of Anakin at the end of the film, he was digitally replaced by Hayden in the 2004 re-release. The move sparked a huge outcry from hardcore fans.
The playwright and director died in 1994, aged 89.
Jake Lloyd
(Entertainment Tonight/YouTube)
The role of Anakin Skywalker has seemingly cursed both of its prequel-starring actors.
Young Jake was only 10 when he played the gifted child in 1999′s Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
(Kevork Djansezian/AP)
Unfortunately, the experience left him embittered. After portraying Anakin in some video games, he quit acting and blamed the movie for his decision.
“My entire school life was really a living hell — and I had to do up to 60 interviews a day,” he told The Sun in 2012.
Jake also vocally criticised Star Wars’ creator for the quality of the prequels.
“When you have something like that, there’s a lot of expectations for it to meet the standards of the public, and I don’t think George did that.”
In June, the former actor – now known as Jake Broadbent – was charged with reckless driving after allegedly leading police in South Carolina on a high-speed chase. He lost control of his car, crashed and was subsequently arrested.
Prior to his run-in with the law, Jake was said to be moving behind the camera to write and direct.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is released in the UK on December 17.
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