Robert De Niro made an unexpected visit to the set of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith during the filming of its famous lightsaber duel, leaving actors Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor amazed. This memorable encounter with De Niro occurred as the iconic scene between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi was being filmed, making it a standout moment for the cast who recounted the story at Fan Expo New Orleans, aligning the unique excitement with the focus keyword: Robert De Niro Star Wars set.
De Niro Visits the Mustafar Battle Scene
While work was underway on the climactic battle on Mustafar, both Christensen and McGregor, who portrayed Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi respectively, were caught off guard when they realized that Robert De Niro was on set observing the action. Hayden Christensen described how the moment unfolded during a panel discussion, emphasizing how the actors were immediately thrilled to spot the acclaimed performer among the crew.
“Robert DeNiro showed up to set,”
Christensen said. “I remember just standing with Ewan, and Ewan says to me, ‘Is that Robert De Niro standing over there?’ And I’m looking over like, ‘Yeah, I think that is him.’ So we’re excited he’s there, and then he walked over, and he was very friendly. I remember I would do a lot of push-ups before each take to get my heart rate up and a little exhaustion going, and he said, ‘You know, I see you doing push-ups before the takes. I do that too.’ That felt good.“ – Hayden Christensen, Actor
Actors Reflect on an Unexpected Guest
Ewan McGregor also shared his perspective about the day De Niro visited. As McGregor prepared for another take, he was caught off guard by the actor’s arrival. Spinning on a prop while waiting for the next scene, McGregor humorously recounted the surprise and confusion he experienced during the visit.
“We cut, and as we’re waiting to do the next take, he [Christensen] goes, ‘I heard that De Niro might be here,’”
McGregor said at a fan expo (via @starlordziggy). “My prop guy hadn’t stopped turning me around, and as I was turning, I saw De Niro behind the monitor. I was like, “It’s too late. He’s here.’” – Ewan McGregor, Actor
Starstruck Moments and Looking Ahead
The visit not only marked a memorable day for the Star Wars performers but also revealed the mutual respect among actors of different worlds. McGregor later recounted sharing the story with De Niro years later, finding humor in the awkwardness of that moment. Christensen, meanwhile, is set to return as Anakin Skywalker in the second season of Ahsoka, with details on the Disney+ premiere date still to be announced.
The encounter between De Niro and the Star Wars cast highlighted how even highly accomplished actors like Christensen and McGregor can be excited by the presence of another industry legend. Events like this underscore the enduring fascination surrounding major productions, such as the filming of must-see scenes on the planet Mustafar, while also building anticipation for Christensen’s future appearances in the Star Wars universe.
