STAR WARS - CHRISTENSEN PREPARES TO JOIN THE DARK SIDE

LATEST: STAR WARS star HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN has been working out in preparation for his role in the next installment of the sci-fi franchise intensifying speculation he will play DARTH VADER.

The VIRGIN SUICIDES actor has already appeared as youthful ANAKIN SKYWALKER in the first two prequels but it had been thought that a different actor would be used when the Jedi character joins the dark side in EPISODE III.

But Hayden has hinted that he will be donning the fearsome black costume when his character makes the fatal choice to turn bad.

He explains, "I'm probably in better shape than I've ever been in my life.

"You can't have a wimpy Darth Vader. I'm working out every day for an hour or two and I'm eating anything I can get my hands on."