Star Wars Young'un Gets Life

Oct. 26 -- Hayden Christensen used to be a young, unknown Canadian actor with only a couple of bit film and TV roles under his belt.

But ever since the fresh-faced blond was cast as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II, he's now a household name among Star Wars fans — and the rest of the industry is starting to take notice.

Christensen, 19, is now close to landing a spot alongside Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas in the drama Life as a House, Variety notes. If he seals the deal, he’ll be playing a moody teenager who has rocky relations with both his dad and his estranged mother (Thomas).

Well, it’s easy to see how the alienated teen part will work, but here’s the twist: The son, who must help his dying father (Kline) build his dream home before he succumbs to cancer, is also a troubled teen who occasionally turns tricks for money.

House was written by As Good As It Gets co-writer Mark Andrus and will be directed by Irwin Winkler (who’s currently producing The Shipping News, starring Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore). Production on House is scheduled to start on Nov. 27, and the film is slotted to hit theaters in either 2001 or 2002 — likely before Episode II’s May 2002 release.