Hayden Christensen felt an 'emotional release' putting the Darth Vader costume back on

Watch: Hayden Christensen on his 'cathartic' return as Vader

Hayden Christensen says that putting on the Darth Vader costume again for Obi-Wan Kenobi was a 'very emotional experience'.

Christensen returns as the legendary Star Wars character 17 years after his last appearance in the series in 2005's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

"This is a character that has meant so much to me," Christensen tells Yahoo ahead of the launch of the new Disney+ show on Friday.

Read more: Vader is 'trying to kill' his Skywalker side in Obi-Wan Kenobi

"And it's one that has stayed with me over the years. Getting to put the suit back on... it was very cathartic in a lot of ways."

"There's a real sort of emotional release."

Cast as a teenage Anakin opposite Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman in 2002′s Episode II: Attack Of The Clones, he portrayed the Jedi’s transformation into Darth Vader, winning the Best Villain award at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards.

Read more: Obi-Wan Kenobi stars overjoyed by Star Wars prequel love

Unfortunately, Christensen’s performance unfairly resulted in two Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies) for Worst Supporting Actor, but the Star Wars prequels have earned legions of devoted fans since their release.

Franchise newcomer Moses Ingram, who plays Jedi hunter Reva (an Inquisitor who works for Vader) in the new series was first introduced to the Star Wars films via the prequels, and admits to finding Vader intimidating on set.

"I had heard about how large Vader looks, or is, but I mean really... he's like LARGE and full of doom and dread," Ingram tells us.

Read more: Who's back for Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Christensen's Vader wears the iconic costume that first appeared in 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope. He only got to wear the suit in a handful of scenes in ROTS, and it's not yet clear how much of him we'll see in Obi-Wan Kenobi. One thing's for sure: Christensen is keeping his secrets close to his chest.

"I don't want to give away anything, but that was certainly a part of the appeal, was the idea that I'll get to explore the character of Darth Vader at this point in his life.

"Because there's a lot of stuff there to delve into."

Teasing the role of the Inquisitors in the new series, Christensen calls them 'very powerful characters with very powerful abilities'. He admits to having enjoyed their first appearance in the animated series Star Wars Rebels, and promises fans will enjoy their live action counterparts.

Picking up Kenobi's story 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, the new Disney+ show finds the Jedi knight in exile on Tatooine, keeping a watchful but distant eye on Vader's son Luke Skywalker, while Vader continues on his mission to wipe out the last of Jedi.

Obi-Wan Kenobi launches with two episodes on Disney+ on Friday, 27 May, with episodes released weekly thereafter.

Watch a trailer below.