Summary
- The Acolyte
‘s
showrunner, Leslye Headland, discusses her interest in exploring and time leading up to the events of
Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. - The murder mystery element of
The Acolyte
is compared to Netflix’s
Russian Doll,
with new clues and information unraveling with each episode, digging deeper. - The Acolyte
features new and powerful Jedi like Lee Jung-jae’s Master Sol; the actor promises intrigue and detective genre twists for the viewers.
The Acolyte is coming June 4 on Disney+ and is set to explore the Star Wars universe during a time of peace at the end of the High Republic era, roughly a century before the birth of Anakin Skywalker. But clearly, there’s a “great disturbance in the Force,” because the Jedi are being hunted in this new series from Leslye Headland. The showrunner was interested in presenting a mystery and discovering how the Jedi ended up where they did in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. Headland said in an interview with Empire magazine:
“I was very interested in:
How did the Jedi get to where they are in Phantom Menace?
You’re definitely getting a sense that, with the Jedi, the writing may be on the wall.
The quote-unquote ‘war’ of this Star Wars is a much smaller, more personal one.
The war between people, the war between characters.”
The Acolyte
Star Wars series that take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.
- Release Date
- 2024-00-00
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Disney+, Lucasfilm
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
Headland actually compares the murder mystery element of The Acolyte to the series she worked on for Netflix, Russian Doll. Headland said in the same interview:
It’s one story with several reveals, and new clues and new information each episode. It’s not just a mystery that you have to find out. It’s not unlike Russian Doll. It’s almost like a spiral — it digs deeper and deeper and deeper.
Plenty of Jedi to Spread Around in The Acolyte
Whether it’s Yoda (Frank Oz) — who is alive during the time period of the upcoming Disney+ series — Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), or Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), there are plenty of powerful Jedi populating the Star Wars saga. And Lee Jung-jae portrays yet another, as Jedi Master Sol in The Acolyte. And he is “massively respected and incredibly powerful,” according to Headland. The actor, who is known for portraying Seong Gi-hun on Squid Game, also feels the mystery of the Disney+ series will be a compelling one for viewers. Jung-jae said in the same interview:
It’s going to get even more intriguing and gripping, because of that detective genre. It’s going to keep you on the edge of your toes, wanting to guess.
Every New Star Wars Character and Actor Confirmed for The Acolyte
The trailer for The Acolyte has revealed many new Star Wars characters, here is a breakdown of each character and who is playing them on the series.
Dafne Keen portrays Master Sol’s Padawan, Jecki Lon, in the upcoming series. And Keen is complimentary of The Acolyte’s showrunner and Headland’s “broad understanding of Star Wars.” The Jedi Knight known as Yord is played by Charlie Barnett, and Headland refers to him as “kind of a jerk,” in the interview with Empire.
Rounding out the users of the Light side of the Force are a handful of skilled Jedi. Actor Joonas Suotamo dons the guise of a Wookiee Jedi known as Kelnacca. The Matrix’s Carrie-Anne Moss suits up as Jedi Master Indara, and Rebecca Henderson plays an older version of the High Republic comic book character, Vernestra Rwoh.
The two-episode premiere of
The Acolyte
drops Tuesday, June 4 on
Disney+.
