Actor Hayden Christensenbest known for playing Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy and several other Lucasfilm projects, drew the ire of fans who were hoping to catch him at Spacecon in San Antonio, Texas, last Saturday. The actor left the convention early to attend Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and the New York Knicks.
Hayden Christensen leaves Space Con early to watch the NBA Finals
Christensen appeared on a panel alongside actor Jimmy Smits and Ian McDiarmid at Spacecon on Saturday, before announcing that he was “going to try to see the second half of the match” in a clip that an attendee uploaded to TikTok.
Multiple witnesses told TMZ they were “upset” that Christensen left the event early, especially since it cost them a pretty penny to attend. In addition to the cost of the panel, the actor charged $175 for autographs, $225 for autographs on special items and $210 for photo ops.
Now Play Podcast Claims Actor ‘Fucked Fans’
So there is a story behind this photo. And that’s how Hayden fucked her fans to get the photo.
Hayden Christiansen was not in San Antonio for the game, he was already scheduled to be at SpaceCon in the same facility as the game.
AND Hayden kind of has a no-other clause… https://t.co/2hGhZadcFL
– Now Playing Podcast (@NowPlayingPod) June 15, 2026
The Now Playing podcast responded to a video in which Christensen held up a jersey. The video, posted by the San Antonio Spurs, featured the caption: “The Force is with us tonight (and so is Anakin! Hayden Christensen is in the building tonight.”
The podcast channel responded to the post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to explain “the story behind this photo” and claimed that “Hayden screwed over her fans to get the photo.”
They claimed the actor “kind of has a clause that no other guest has: for him to do a panel at a con, he wants more money, so they make it a ticketed, ticketed event.”
“NEVER in 25 years of scamming have I seen people pay to attend panels (which are usually pretty crap). People paid *$100* per ticket to see Hayden with Ian McDermid. [sic] and Jimmy Smith [sic] (both of whom would have done the panel for free… but not Hayden),” they claimed.
They added that the panel was scheduled for 8:15 p.m., well before the NBA Finals were announced, but they decided to move it to 8:00 p.m. due to the game. Although the start of the panel “went well,” Hayden reportedly got up and left the panel twenty minutes after the panel began.
Ian McDiarmid and Jimmy Smits reportedly stayed for the entire panel
Although McDiarmid and Smits apparently stayed the entire time, the podcast channel claimed that “attendees say all the energy left the room with Hayden.”
They concluded: “The unrivaled greed and ego exhibited by Christiansen [sic] because this photo op is truly an unwarranted display of entitlement and a way to make fun of the fans (not me!) who paid $100 OVER A DICK BADGE just to hear him speak.
In the comments, many fans pointed out that they had attended paid panels in the past, especially in the evenings. A fan who attended the same Spacecon that Christensen left noted that Tom Hiddleston also had a paid panel; however, it was the day before and he stayed the whole time. Other fans also questioned the “clause” Christensen allegedly had and doubted its validity.
At this time, it is unclear whether disappointed participants will be refunded.
Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka season 2
Although he may have upset some fans with his decision to leave the convention early, Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in “Ahsoka” season 2, as The Hollywood Reporter announced in April 2025.
The announcement was made during the Star Wars Celebration event in Tokyo, Japan. Show creator Dave Filoniexecutive producer Jon Favreau and the “Ahsoka” actress Rosario Dawson discussed the inspiration behind the series and the making of season 1.
They then showed a clip between Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka on screen before Christensen walked out to thunderous applause. “I can’t share much, but Anakin will be back for season two,” Christensen said at the time.
Although “Ahsoka” season 2 was filmed in 2025 and many fans expected it to premiere on Disney+ in 2026, the series’ second release was delayed until 2027.
