The Acolyte: key info
– Set for launch in 2024 on Disney Plus
– Created by Leslye Headland, one of many brains behind Netflix’s acclaimed Russian Doll TV present
– Pitched as “Frozen meets Kill Invoice“
– Set throughout Star Wars’ Excessive Republic period
– No trailer or official story particulars revealed but
– Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Eager, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jodie Turner-Smith amongst forged
The Acolyte is not like any of the opposite new Star Wars TV exhibits and flicks heading to Disney Plus.
Set throughout The Excessive Republic period – round a century earlier than the occasions of The Phantom Menace and, later, the Skywalker Saga – it’ll present the Jedi Order on the peak of its powers. It will additionally put followers of the Darkish Facet of the Pressure entrance and heart of its story, paving the best way for Emperor Palpatine’s energy seize within the prequel trilogy.
We all know the Disney Plus sequence, which is being helmed by Russian Doll’s Leslye Headland, can have a better deal with its feminine characters than any earlier journey to George Lucas’s well-known galaxy far, far-off, too. Briefly: anticipate the sudden when this Star Wars present drops someday subsequent yr.
With The Acolyte one in every of three Star Wars tasks retreating in 2024, then, we have rounded up every thing you must learn about this hotly anticipated TV present. That features confirmed forged and plot particulars, hypothesis on its launch date, and extra.
Delicate spoilers comply with for some elements of Star Wars: The Acolyte, in addition to particulars on the Excessive Republic period from Star Wars‘ in depth literary works.
The Acolyte launch date: what we all know thus far
Lucasfilm hasn’t set its focusing on pc to something extra particular than a imprecise 2024 launch window, which was introduced throughout Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London, for The Acolyte.
Filming – most of which befell within the UK – wrapped on June 6, an entire month earlier than the now-resolved actors strike so, so long as its post-production part would not overrun, the eight-episode sequence continues to be on the right track to land subsequent yr.
Even so, when is the million-dollar query. Skeleton Crew (which wrapped in January 2023) and Andor season 2 are additionally primed to make the hyperspace bounce onto one of many world’s finest streaming providers in 2024, too. The latter of these is within the remaining throes of full manufacturing, with some scenes but to be shot. If Andor‘s subsequent outing finally ends up being Star Wars‘ late 2024 providing due to its manufacturing schedule, The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew‘s releases will rely on which one is able to go first.
Our guess? The Acolyte, primarily based on the actual fact we all know extra about it, is more likely to be the primary of these three sequence to launch, which means we may see it someday in early 2024.
The Acolyte forged: confirmed and rumored
A lot of The Acolyte‘s forged have already been confirmed, although most of their characters are shielded behind a forcefield of secrecy:
- Amandla Stenberg as TBC
- Lee Jung-jae as TBC
- Manny Jacinto as TBC
- Dafne Eager as TBC
- Jodie Turner-Smith as TBC
- Carrie-Anne Moss as TBC
- Rebecca Henderson as Vernestra Rwoh
- Charlie Barnett as TBC
- Dean-Charles Chapman as TBC
- Margarita Levieva as TBC
- Joonas Suotamo as Kelnacca
Of the above contingent, Stenberg (Our bodies Our bodies Our bodies) was one of many first to be introduced. Certainly, Star Wars: The Acolyte discovered one in every of its lead stars in December 2021, earlier than the Disney Plus present bought a serious forged replace in November 2022, with the likes of Moss, Jung-jae, Eager, and Turner-Smith added to its ranks.
The 2 characters who don’t have ‘TBC’ subsequent to their identify are each Jedi. Per Leisure Weekly (EW), Kelnacca is a Wookiee Pressure-wielder, and might be portrayed by Joonas Suotamo, finest identified for enjoying Chewbacca within the Star Wars sequel trilogy and Solo: A Star Wars Story. In the meantime, Vernestra Rwoh is a green-skinned Mirialan Jedi who’s grow to be one thing of a fan favourite in current Excessive Republic tales. This older model of the character might be performed by Russian Doll’s Rebecca Henderson, as confirmed by Collider.
Different forged members’ characters stay anonymous, however we all know some particulars about them. Stenberg performs a former Padawan apprentice, whereas Jung-jae (Squid Recreation) is her former Jedi Grasp. Star Wars Stuff posted a leaked set photograph of Lee’s character on X (previously often called Twitter), which you’ll be able to view under:
The primary photos of Lee Jung-jae on the set of THE ACOLYTE!(@DailyMail) pic.twitter.com/4ozEKcQoYyDecember 8, 2022
Elsewhere, Empire journal (due to Star Wars Leaks for the help) confirmed Charlie Barnett (Chicago Hearth), Dafne Eager (His Darkish Supplies), and Dean-Charles Chapman (Recreation of Thrones) may even be enjoying Jedi. Right here’s Chapman on set (once more, per Star Wars Stuff):
Dean-Charles Chapman on the set of THE ACOLYTE!(@DailyMail) pic.twitter.com/JGJR4IeVmHDecember 8, 2022
In response to the identical Empire article linked above, Eager’s Pressure-sensitive character is human-Theelin hybrid, very similar to Rystáll Sant, a red-haired backing singer for Jabba’s home band in Return of the Jedi. Eager advised Empire her character is “David Bowie meets Star Wars: I’ve a bit mullet, I’ve horns, it’s cute.”
Turner-Smith’s (Queen & Slim) character does “use the Pressure, however I’m not a Jedi or Sith”. Moss (The Matrix) may even play a Pressure wielder of some description, although her allegiance just isn’t but clear.
Within the most interesting custom of Han Solo, not each member of The Acolyte forged might be displaying off their abilities with the Pressure or a lightsaber. Manny Jacinto (9 Good Strangers) advised Empire journal his character is “only a common man, making an attempt to have a very good time, who will get swept up into the Excessive Republic world and the Jedi, whether or not he likes it or not.”
Past the principle forged, UK newspaper The Metro claimed Moss’ Matrix co-star Keanu Reeves may cameo. And don’t be stunned if Yoda – who’s 900 years outdated by the point of his dying in Return of the Jedi, and due to this fact alive and kicking within the Excessive Republic period – makes an look. Palpatine’s Muun Sith Grasp, Darth Plagueis, can also be at giant.
There’s a lot to recommend the present is in wonderful fingers behind the digital camera, too. In addition to having co-created among the finest Netflix exhibits ever in Russian Doll, Headland is a lifelong Star Wars aficionado.
“She is a huge Star Wars fan,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy advised Self-importance Truthful. “What’s great about Leslye is she is aware of all of it. I imply, she’s learn a gazillion books contained in the EU [Expanded Universe]. There are little bits and items that she’s drawing from that nobody has explored but within the onscreen storytelling.”
Becoming a member of Headland within the stacked and proficient writers room are (per Knight Edge Media) are Jason Micallef (Heathers), Charmaine DeGrate and Eileen Shim (Home of the Dragon), Jasmyne Flournoy (Falcon and the Winter Solider), Claire Kiechel (Watchmen), Kor Adana (Mr. Robotic), Cameron Squires (WandaVision), Jocelyn Bioh (Tiny Stunning Issues), and Jen Richards (Her Story).
The Acolyte plot hypothesis
Bored with the Skywalker household’s disproportionate affect on that galaxy far, far-off? The Acolyte may very well be the present for you. Kicking off practically 100 years earlier than Anakin was even born, the brand new present is about within the Excessive Republic period, a time interval the veteran franchise has – until you rely non-canon children’ present Younger Jedi Adventures – by no means beforehand explored on display.
Per StarWars.com, The Acolyte is a “mystery-thriller” set in “a galaxy of shadowy secrets and techniques and rising darkish aspect powers within the remaining days of the Excessive Republic period. A former Padawan reunites along with her Jedi Grasp to research a sequence of crimes, however the forces they confront are extra sinister than they ever anticipated.”
“It’s set 100 years earlier than the prequel films, and it is type of an evidence of how the Sith infiltrated the Jedi,” Eager completely advised TechRadar, too. “It’s a Sith-led story, which has by no means been executed earlier than.”
Whereas The Acolyte marks its live-action debut, the Excessive Republic is already a giant deal in wider Star Wars canon. Since Charles Soule’s novel The Gentle of the Jedi was printed in January 2021, this Lucasfilm multimedia initiative has advised quite a few tales – throughout books, comics, brief tales, and an audio drama – set throughout a interval stretching from round 500 years to 100 years earlier than the occasions of the unique Star Wars trilogy.
“The Acolyte stands out as a result of it’s the earliest within the Star Wars timeline that we now have ever been in live-action,” showrunner Leslye Headland advised EW’s Dagobah Dispatch podcast. “We’re towards the top of the Excessive Republic, main into George [Lucas]’s prequels, so we’re a time interval the place the Jedi are on the peak of their energy.
“We’re a time interval the place there may be peace all through the galaxy. It was very difficult and fascinating to make a Star Wars with no conflict in it. So the query grew to become ‘Properly, what ought to the present be about if it isn’t going to be about galactic battle?'”
Three live-action Star Wars sequence reportedly releasing in 2024; ‘Skeleton Crew’, ‘The Acolyte’ and ‘Andor’ season 2!https://t.co/a0rytrgm7J #starwars pic.twitter.com/FaHdAcLpyGNovember 24, 2023
The previous Padawan and Jedi Grasp talked about in StarWars.com’s abstract are virtually undoubtedly the as-yet unnamed characters performed by Stenberg and Jung-jae. Nevertheless it’s these references to “shadowy secrets and techniques”, “rising darkish aspect powers”, and sinister forces which are more likely to be extra necessary to the general Star Wars timeline. (If you wish to see how every thing matches collectively, take a look at our helpful tips on how to watch Star Wars so as information).
It seems that, within the glory days of the Excessive Republic, the Jedi’s everlasting rivals – the Sith – have successfully handed into delusion, very similar to the Jedi did within the authentic movie trilogy. Nevertheless, if Star Wars has taught us something, it’s that the Darkish Facet by no means actually goes away. The Acolyte, then, will successfully sow the seeds for fall of the Republic within the prequel films, when Jedi complacency permits Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine to rise to energy proper underneath Yoda and Mace Windu’s noses.
“The Excessive Republic is so golden in so some ways,” Headland identified to Self-importance Truthful. “The Jedi uniforms are gold and white and it is virtually like they’d by no means get soiled. The thought is that they may have these kinds of uniforms as a result of that’s how little they’re moving into skirmishes. So, after all, my query is like, ‘Properly, what else is happening?’ You possibly can’t simply find yourself with George [Lucas]’ Phantom Menace scenario if every thing goes effectively.
“It must be going effectively on the expense of what? What just isn’t being attended to? What are we turning a blind eye to that might result in the rise of any person like Palpatine a couple of century later? Sure, it’s one dangerous man, but it surely’s one dangerous man that fully undermines the whole system of presidency. Numerous different issues will need to have been happening beneath the floor.”
In arguably the present’s most radical departure from conventional Star Wars, the so-called good guys received’t essentially be the protagonists of The Acolyte plot – certainly, in franchise lore, the time period ‘acolyte’ has historically referred to followers of the Sith faith.
“I believe that what makes this present totally different and fascinating is that it’s from the attitude of the villains of Star Wars,” Headland advised the Dagobah Dispatch podcast. “These are people who find themselves utilizing the Pressure in their very own method, dipping into the darker sides of the Pressure and are doing it with out being sanctioned by the bigger establishment, which, on this case, is the Jedi.”
There are additionally parallels with The Mandalorian season 4, the place conventional dangerous guys the Empire are – just like the Darkish Siders in The Acolyte – the plucky outsiders battling in opposition to the institution.
“Star Wars is at all times about some model of the underdog versus the establishment,” stated Headland. “And I simply thought it was very fascinating to do a present concerning the dangerous guys and to set that in that point interval made essentially the most sense. So it’s type of virtually flipped. We have now extra Jedi than you’ve seen in any of the of the Star Wars content material, however on the similar time, you see extra morally ambiguous characters than you’ve seen in different Star Wars content material.”
Regardless of all that darkness, the world of The Acolyte – lots of which, it appears, will happen on metropolis planet Coruscant – will look prettier and shinier than Star Wars ever has earlier than.
“I like the truth that George Lucas, when he initially made Episodes IV via VI [A New Hope to Return of the Jedi], you’ll be able to see that he needs every thing to really feel prefer it has this specific sort of decay,” Headland advised Self-importance Truthful. “It is a lived-in sci-fi/fantasy world, not a modern, well-put-together aesthetic.
“[But] when he tasked himself with making the prequels, the best way that he determined to deal with expertise and all of these kinds of issues was to make it a a lot sleeker, better-looking, virtually extra superior time. That’s what’s type of bizarre about Star Wars. The additional you return, the higher issues are. ‘A very long time in the past’ really turns into extra futuristic. So whereas we’re creating any such world, we’re making an attempt to hold George’s idea that the additional you return, the extra thrilling and new and modern and fascinating issues look.”
However one huge query stays: how do these darkish Jedi and the longer term fall of the Republic slot in with Headland’s unlikely – if headline-friendly – authentic “Frozen meets Kill Invoice” elevator pitch for The Acolyte story? The Tarantino reference refers back to the martial arts influences on the movie, every thing from Akira Kurosawa samurai films to Shaw Brothers’ Hong Kong actioners to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
As for the favored cartoon musical Frozen, aka one in every of our greatest Disney Plus films, that’s a nod to a narrative that – like Star Wars: Ahsoka earlier this yr – is dominated by its feminine characters.
“A lot of Frozen was concerning the sister relationship,” Headland advised IGN. “A lot of it was concerning the villain really being a robust, misunderstood lady. I couldn’t consider that it was a cartoon with music. It was hitting me on such a deep stage and but servicing the style so effectively.”
In so some ways, The Acolyte guarantees to be Star Wars as we’ve by no means seen it earlier than.
The Acolyte trailer: is there one?
No, a trailer for The Acolyte hasn’t been launched but. Solely the fortunate few who attended Star Wars Celebration 2023 have seen some footage, however – assuming Lucasfilm comply with typical protocols – we’d anticipate the primary teaser to reach just a few months forward of the Disney Plus present’s debut.
Per Selection, the Celebration footage featured a gold lightsaber, many Jedi igniting their Kyber crystal-based blades in unison, and a struggle between Moss and Stenberg’s masked character “that recalled the previous’s The Matrix efficiency.”
GamesRadar added the teaser opened with Jung-jae’s character telling Padawan learners “the Pressure is highly effective, it’s energy, we should respect [it]”. Additionally they reported a seemingly pivotal line spoken by Turner-Smith’s character saying “this isn’t about good or dangerous. That is about energy and who’s allowed to make use of it”.
As soon as an official teaser makes its method onto YouTube and Star Wars‘ social channels, we’ll replace this part.
The Acolyte: what to observe earlier than its arrival
Given it is set in the course of the Excessive Republic period, there are not any Star Wars films or TV exhibits you must watch earlier than The Acolyte launches, which can come as a reduction to viewers who don’t desire plenty of homework to do.
Nonetheless, in order for you some Lucasfilm-developed TV sequence to stream – a few of them are among the many finest Disney Plus exhibits – within the interim, take a look at a number of of the choices under:
- The Mandalorian – set between Star Wars Episode VI and Episode VII, this house western sees Pedro Pascal’s lone gunslinger turns into a surrogate father to ‘child Yoda’, a toddler of the legendary Jedi’s alien race, who is seemingly important significance to a Machiavellian scheme concocted by the Galactic Empire’s remnants. All three seasons can be found on Disney’s main streamer now.
- Star Wars: Ahsoka – operating alongside The Mandalorian, this live-action sequel to Star Wars: Rebels sees the fan-favorite Togruta Pressure wielder reunite along with her Rebels allies to try to thwart a menacing Empire basic’s return. Stream season 1 after which learn our Star Wars: Ahsoka ending explainer to see the way it impacts the way forward for Star Wars.
- The Guide of Boba Fett – the weakest of Lucasfilms’ live-action exhibits, Boba Fett’s standalone present sees the long-lasting bounty hunter navigate the galaxy’s seedy underworld as he makes an attempt to switch Jabba the Hutt as Tattooine’s primary crime lord. All seven episodes can be found on Disney Plus.
