The Acolyte Wants To Redefine Star Wars

The Acolyte, an upcoming Star Wars series delving into the franchise's distant past during the final days of the High Republic era, recently unveiled more about its captivating mythology and performances. Showrunner Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) and stars Amandla Stenberg (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) and Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game) shared insights in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

The series takes place during a peaceful time when the Jedi are at the peak of their power, posing a challenge--what is Star Wars without war? This question led to an exploration of morally complex characters who operate independently of the established Jedi order.

"What should the show be about if it's not going to be about galactic conflict?" Headland said. Ultimately, she landed on following the future villains. "These are people who are using the Force in their own way, dipping into the darker sides of the Force and are doing it without being sanctioned by the larger institution, which, in this case, is the Jedi."

Despite the absence of large-scale conflicts, Headland assured fans that action would still play a significant role. The show will feature battles, showcasing elaborate martial arts-themed choreography that redefines expectations of Star Wars combat scenes. "I can say this pretty confidently," Headland said. "I don't think you're going to see action in other shows the way that you see it utilized in our show."

While the characters played by Lee and Stenberg remain mysterious, they both expressed excitement about exploring the moral and ethical dilemmas their roles present. Stenberg, in particular, relishes the opportunity to delve into these conflicts in the Disney+ series. At the same time, neither were above geeking out. "I can't believe I'm playing a Jedi master and I get to use a lightsaber!" Lee said via a translator.

The Acolyte's eight-episode first season is scheduled to be released on Disney+ in 2024. Ahsoka will premiere with two episodes on August 23, also via Disney+.