Star Wars: Hayden Christensen Returns As Anakin On Thrawn Novel Cover

Grand Admiral Thrawn returns in a newStar Warsnovel - and this clip he ’s fetch Hayden Christensen ’s Anakin Skywalker along for the drive . First introduced as a villain in the 1991 novelHeir to the Empireby author Timothy Zahn - though that account book along with many others were use up out of persistence when Disney acquired Lucasfilm - the fan - favourite villain has since made a return to canyon .

While he was a major force in the Empire in both the original and Modern continuity , Thrawn spend relatively little time in the fellowship of Emperor Palpatine ’s other major lieutenant , Darth Vader . In Zahn ’s fresh novel , Thrawn : Alliances , the blue - skinned military strategist finds himselfworking with the Dark Lord of the Sith . It also reveals that the two have an strange chronicle together , having meet some time before Anakin Skywalker ’s transformation into Vader .

tie in : Battlefront 2 Getting Clone Wars Content let in Anakin & Obi - Wan

Lucasfilm has now unfreeze the screening art for the new volume , featuring a austere Thrawn standing just in front of a shadowy Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker . It ’s a striking image accompany by a short excerption from the novel and audio book detailing an awkward first conversation between the intellectual Chiss and impetuous ( former ) Jedi . Anakin has journeyed late into space on a personal question , and from the outset , it ’s clear that Thrawn know much more than he ’s letting on . Take a smell :

Anakin may be a central type to the saga , but as the cover art reinforces , this is Thrawn ’s book . The theatrical role ’s first appearance kick off a undulation of in - continuity Star Wars novels that helped mold what was then predict the Star Wars Extended Universe . Disney may have relegate those works to out - of - continuity Legends , but they clearly come across the collection of the character . Thrawn first returned as the primary scoundrel of the third and fourth season of the animatedStar Wars Rebels . There he retained much of Zahn ’s original characterization , bear witness an thinking and dangerous foe for the other Rebellion .

By direct contrast , Anakin Skywalker has been a case as long as Star Wars has been around , though Christensen ’s specific rendering did n’t succeed over many fans . The role was better received inStar Wars : The Clone Wars , and Darth Vader continues to enjoy massive popularity , but there has n’t been much clamouring for the adventures of young Anakin . Considering their very dissimilar personalities and philosophy , teaming these two could be very bright .

George Lucas with A New Hope imagery v3

From the movies to the books , Disney seems enwrapped on explore the many nooks and crannies of the Star Wars universe under their guidance . Bringing recognized characters like Thrawn back in is a smart move , especially with Zahn return to the helm . Of course , many fans are still hopeful for a alive - action appearance from the Grand Admiral , but in the interim at least they can treat themselves to fresh story featuring one of the galaxies great scoundrel .