The Star Wars prequels cast Hayden Christensen as the tragic character Darth Vader . His performance made a huge fan out of Nicolas Cage, who Christensen would end up working with in another film. What Nicolas Cage thought of Hayden Christensen’s Darth Vader performance Cage and Christensen worked together for the first time in the 2014 film Outcast .
But Cage was already familiar with Christensen’s work years before their collaboration. In a resurfaced interview with IGN (via Contact Music ), Cage confided that he’d been keeping an eye on Christensen since his Star Wars days. The prequels were typically criticized back in the day for some of the acting.
But the movie star was more than impressed by what Christensen brought to the table. “And so, I watched George’s movies, and the work Hayden did with George, and I was very impressed with Hayden’s sort of edgy, dangerous, dark and still soulful performance,” Cage said. “I thought it was superb.
And so I really connected with him.” Cage especially responded to Christensen’s presence in the Star Wars flicks. “Plus he has a look in his eyes that I respond to,” he said.
“Because it almost feels familial. He’s got that sad thing in his eyes that I’ve always been accused of having in my eyes. I thought we would be a good match on camera together – it just seemed like a good fit.
And I’m happy to say it worked out. He’s also a lovely man – he’s a very nice man. And I hope to continue our frien.