At a Glance
- Robert De Niro surprised the Revenge of the Sith set to visit George Lucas
- Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor were starstruck by the unexpected guest
- De Niro noticed Christensen’s pre-take push-ups and shared he does the same
- Why it matters: Shows how even A-list actors get awestruck by legends on set
Hayden Christensen still remembers the day Robert De Niro walked onto the Star Wars set. The actor, now 44, told the story during Fan Expo New Orleans on January 9, revealing how the surprise visit turned an already epic lightsaber battle into an unforgettable memory.
The Day De Niro Dropped By
Christensen was filming the climactic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi when De Niro arrived unannounced. The Oscar winner hadn’t come to see the actors-he wanted to check out what his friend George Lucas was creating.
“I remember during one of the days that we were filming that fight, Robert De Niro showed up to set, just because he wanted to come see what we were doing – not us, but George, [he] wanted to see what George was doing,” Christensen told the crowd.
The moment froze both Christensen and co-star Ewan McGregor. Standing together in their Jedi robes, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Obviously, I am a huge fan of his. 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.'”
Shared Acting Rituals
De Niro didn’t just observe-he connected with the young cast. Christensen had developed a pre-take ritual of pumping out push-ups to get his heart racing for the intense scenes. De Niro noticed immediately.
“He walked over, and he was very friendly. And I remember, because I would do a lot of push-ups before each take to try to get my heart rate up and a little exhaustion going, and he came over to me and he said, ‘You know, I see you doing push-ups before the takes.’ He was like, ‘I do that, too.'”
For Christensen, this small acknowledgment meant everything. The shared professional habit made the surreal encounter feel grounded-two actors from different generations connecting over the craft.
“That felt good,” he admitted.
Lucas’ Celebrity Phone Pranks
The De Niro visit was just one example of how Lucas kept his sets entertaining. The director had a habit of involving his famous friends in the filmmaking process, even when they weren’t physically present.
“There were some very interesting people who would come by set. Sometimes, Lucas would have a friend on the phone yell ‘action’ as they began to film a scene,” Christensen revealed.
The prank calls became legendary. Lucas would dial up fellow directing titans, then broadcast their voices across the set through a megaphone.
“I remember George used to like to call up Francis Ford Coppola or Steven Spielberg and then he put them on the phone and then he put the phone to a megaphone. Then he would be like, ‘All right, Steven Spielberg’s calling action on this one.’ He would start the shot for us, and that happened a few times.”
Behind the Lightsaber Battle
The scene they were filming that day-the Mustafar duel-would become one of cinema’s most iconic lightsaber battles. Christensen and McGregor spent months training for the intricate choreography, perfecting every swing and parry.
Having De Niro watch them work added pressure, but also inspiration. Here was an actor whose career they’d studied, suddenly witnessing their most physically demanding work on the franchise.
The Revenge of the Sith set became a hub for celebrity visits. Lucas’ extensive network meant Hollywood royalty regularly dropped by to see the Star Wars magic being made. Each visit left lasting impressions on the younger cast members navigating massive franchise expectations.
Lasting Impact
Christensen looks back on those moments with appreciation. The combination of intense physical training, complex emotional scenes, and surprise celebrity encounters created memories that outlasted the film itself.
“There’s just some fun stuff like that,” he reflected, acknowledging how these unique experiences shaped his time in the galaxy far, far away.
The De Niro encounter particularly stuck with him. Beyond the starstruck moment, it was about recognizing shared dedication to the craft-no matter the scale of the production or legendary status of the actor.
Key Takeaways
- Robert De Niro’s surprise visit to the Revenge of the Sith set left Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor starstruck
- De Niro connected with Christensen over their shared pre-take push-up ritual
- George Lucas regularly involved celebrity friends like Spielberg and Coppola in set pranks
- The Mustafar duel filming became memorable for both its cinematic importance and unexpected celebrity moments
