Star Wars: Everything You Need to Know About The Acolyte
Disney+ has been a fantastic resource for Lucasfilm to experiment with. The platform has allowed the first ever Star Wars live-action shows to be put into development and became a home for countless animated series from the past and the present. Lucasfilm and Disney have an exciting slate in store for Star Wars fans, with a range of innovative new shows looking to expand the extended universe even further. The Acolyte is a thrilling addition to that list and potentially the first of many in a wider saga.
For some time, The Acolyte was clouded in mystery, with very few details surfacing as to what audiences could expect from this space opera installment. However, now that more information has emerged, it’s clear that Star Wars is taking yet another genre shift with a thematic thriller that looks to explore the depths of the Force and the Jedi Order during the absolute height of the Republic. There’s a lot more to learn about The Acolyte and where it sits within the overall Star Wars galaxy.
The Acolyte Continues The High Republic
The Show Marks LucasFilm’s First Live-Action Move Into the High Republic Era
The Acolyte recently received an official synopsis that teased a mysterious enemy from a Jedi’s past and a series of crimes that must be solved. Right out of the starting gate, The Acolyte has thus been set up as a very different experience, boasting those murder mystery elements and accompanied by a darker tone, as seen in the promotional material. This seems far closer to Andor than any of the other series that Lucasfilm has produced within the galaxy, and that grittier edge will ensure that the Jedi are presented in a way they have never been before. That’s a good sign for those who have followed the Star Wars universe for decades and are searching for a different take on those familiar characters. But, not only is The Acolyte tonally defining itself separate from other Disney+ projects, it is also set during a very different era. Indeed, the Disney+ shows have been influenced largely by the ‘Mandoverse,’ which incorporates narratives from after the fall of the Empire and during the dawn of the New Republic. The Acolyte, on the other hand, isn’t associated with this period at all.
In fact, The Acolyte is set even before the prequels, setting a new standard for live-action Star Wars shows in exploring a period not often seen on screen. The Acolyte is actually influenced and set within the High Republic era, a period that was launched by Disney and Lucasfilm as a publishing initiative depicting a new set of characters and conflicts. This part of the Star Wars timeline brought prosperity to the Jedi after the defeat of all the Sith. But with a new threat emerging and the Outer Rim proving to be a frontier full of dangers and outlaws, the Republic is very much engaged with completely different problems. The Acolyte appears to be set towards the final part of this era, and thus after the animated show Young Jedi Adventures but before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The series looks to be fundamental in transitioning from one area of storytelling to another, which could also lead to a few character cameos and other such connections that set up the prequels. So, The Acolyte is stepping into a new genre and an alternative part of the timeline, making it a very different story from what audiences are used to.
The Star Wars Series is Guided By Talented Creators
A Lifelong Star Wars Fan Helms the Exciting Spinoff
The trailer for The Acolyte recently dropped and acts as an amazing showcase of all the fantastic actors associated with the project. Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Carrie-Anne Moss, Dafne Keen, Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith and Rebecca Henderson are just some of the massive names that have been cast in the show. Since this is a series set within the High Republic and centered on the Jedi Order many of these figures are playing Jedi. Considering so many live-action projects as of late have been set in the period after the Empire’s collapse, it’s refreshing to see a range of new Force-sensitive, Lightsabser-wielding characters who might be able to offer up a fresh perspective on the galaxy. These performances will be accompanied by a score from Michael Abels, who will be debuting in the Star Wars franchise. His work on films like Get Out, Us, Nope, and Bad Education should give an insight into how he will approach the score, ramping up tension with his unique style.
The creator and executive producer of the series is Leslye Headland, who is a massive Star Wars fan and has already promised to pull narratives from the extended Legends universe while paying homage to the amazing books and comics in the High Republic era. The Acolyte is in safe hands, led by someone who has a true appreciation for the galaxy’s history and a stellar track record in the past. Russian Doll, About Last Night, and the upcoming The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo indicate Headland’s sheer versatility and eye for both comedy and drama. Featuring eight episodes, each of which will be around 30 minutes long, The Acolyte will be a methodical and poignant show curated by some of the best talent working today. Because Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are not overly involved in this project, the show will feel very different from the ‘Mandoverse’ with these experienced voices forging a new path forward.
The Show Marks a Big Step in Lucasfilm’s Slate
The Acolyte is Just the First Step on a Larger Path
The Acolyte will achieve many things, from setting the visual palette for this period of Star Wars with sleeker designs and grandiose color schemes while also introducing many people to the High Republic for the first time. The Acolyte needs to be a success for the era to continue gaining traction on screen. With readers falling in love with the amazing texts that Lucasfilm produced pre-Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, The Acolyte has to do that era justice. What’s more, it’s been revealed that there are already ideas on the table for Season 2 of the show, with The Acolyte being treated as proper serialized TV storytelling as opposed to an event series that could have worked just as well as a movie. That’s a reassuring shift in tactic from Lucasfilm and one that promises that the narrative can be added to, with more layers and nuances brought to these characters.
So, The Acolyte is launching the High Republic into live-action, telling an original story that is tonally different from everything else, and setting itself up for sequel installments. But fans are also looking at how the show is going to investigate Star Wars lore, exploring the Force in more detail and teasing events that have not yet been depicted. Future Star Wars projects like the Dawn of the Jedi movie concept could be set up via The Acolyte’s portrayal of Jedi history. What’s more, this is also a great way to tie back into the Old Republic, which Lucasfilm maintains as a part of the timeline and seems to factor into the plans concerning the Knights of the Old Republic video game remake. From a Wookie Jedi to an exploration of Star Wars mythology, a thrilling mystery, and a new era, there’s a lot to look forward to with The Acolyte. The key lesson to take away here is that just like Andor before it, Lucasfilm is hoping that the show will capture a different audience’s attention with a niche approach to the material.
