5 Things about the New Star Wars Show The Acolyte!

The first two episodes of the new Star Wars series The Acolyte premiered a few days ago. The series takes place 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, in a time period not seen in any of the live-action films or series. While investigating a shocking crime, a respected Master Jedi (Lee Jung-jae) encountered a dark warrior from his past. As more clues are revealed, they embark on a dark journey to confront the forces of evil and discover that all is not as it seems.

Cast and Crew

The show is created and directed by Lesley Headland, the creator of the critically acclaimed comedy Russian Doll. Apart from Headland, directors of the first season include Kogonada (After Yang), Alex Garcia Lopez (The Witcher) and Hanelle Culpepper (Star Trek: Discovery). The cast includes Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give), Emmy Award winner Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place), Dafne Keen (Logan), Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll), Jodie Turner-Smith (Without Remorse), Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman (1917), Joonas Suotamo, who played Chewbacca in several Star Wars movies, and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix)

Russian Doll was a sci-fi comedy-drama in a time loop setting that told a deep, soul-searching tale about the meaning of life and existentialism, while director Kogonada's past work were mainly independent films about love and humanity. It would be nothing less than exciting to see the new elements and themes they bring to Star Wars. In addition, the show casts Emmy Award-winning actor Lee Jung-jae and the iconic action star Carrie-Anne Moss as Jedi Masters. Their performances and fight scenes will be the highlight of the show.

A New Era

The Acolyte is the first live-action series to center around the The High Republic era, which predates all live-action Star Wars films and series to date. Star Wars: The High Republic is Lucasfilm's latest multimedia project consisting of a series of novels and comics. The High Republic takes place approximately two hundred years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, when the galaxy is at peace and the Galactic Republic is rapidly expanding into the outer galaxies, but faces the threat of “space Vikings” known as the Nihil. The Jedi Order was at the height of their power and was responsible for the protection of the Galactic Republic. In addition to the Jedi Temple on the capital planet Coruscant, the Jedi also had temples on other planets. Set in such an era, this show will explore more about the culture, customs and adventures of the Jedi.

As the show takes place at the end of the High Republic era, about a hundred years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, it may depict the end of golden age and the start of the fall of the Jedi Order. Also, as the show is set in a new era, I believe its visual style and production design will be a bit different from the recent Star Wars films and series, but may be a bit similar to the prequel trilogy.

The Golden Age of Jedi

Set in the era of the High Republic, we're going to see the Jedi Order at their peak, including some Jedi who have never appeared on the big screen or TV before. From the trailer, it looks like there are at least two other notable Jedi in the show besides the main character, Sol -- Vernestra Rwoh (portrayed by Rebecca Henderson) and Kelnacca ( portrated by Joonas Suotamo.) Vernestra has already been featured in the Star Wars: The High Republic novels and comics, which depicted her youth to her rise to the esteemed Master Jedi in The Acolyte. It remains to be seen how she may tie together the different storylines and characters in these works. Moreover, Star Wars fans may be surprised to see her weapon, which is not just a lightsaber, but a lightsaber whip. On the other hand, Kelnacca is the first Wookiee Jedi to appear in a movie or a TV series, and one wonders how his fighting methods, personality and abilities will be different from those of other Jedi.

In addition to these new characters, the show takes place about 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, so some may expect that some of the characters from the prequel trilogy would make an appearance, especially Yoda, one of the most powerful and well-known Jedi masters in the franchise. However, according to Comic Book Resources, Leslye Headland, the show's creator, has made it clear that Yoda will not be appearing this season and the show will instead be centered around characters from Star Wars: The High Republic and the Expanded Universe (the novels and comics published prior to Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm).

The Rise of Sith

As mentioned above, the show will most likely center around the Jedi's final glory days, which means the audience will also witness the rise of the villainous Sith. In Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Jedi was kept in the dark, believing that the Sith was extinct a thousand years ago. In fact, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious (portrayed by Ian McDiarmid) has been secretly plotting to rule the galaxy. As the show takes place 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, he would not have been born yet and will unlikely appear in this show. In the previous Star Wars films and series, the Sith have always consisted of two people, a master and an apprentice. Therefore, this show may feature the debut of two Sith lords who have never been seen in live action before in this show. They may include Darth Plagueis, the master of Darth Sidious. In the trailer, there is a mysterious character wearing a black mask and wielding a red laser sword. Would that villain be a Sith? Let’s wait and see the face behind the mask.

Mystery and Martial Arts

The genre of the Star Wars franchise has always been sci-fi and space operas, but The Acolyte has some mystery elements revolving around Jedi Master Sol's investigation of a mysterious crime and finding the suspect, which is sure a fresh genre in the franchise. Moreover, as mentioned above, the villain in this drama wears a mask, which makes us wonder if he is always hiding around the main characters. It will surely spark speculations and guesses on the identity of this character during the course of the show.

In addition, from the trailer and the making-of featurette, it seems that there will be a lot of martial arts scenes in this series, and they are not the usual lightsaber fights in this franchise.

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Sources: Disney+, Comic Book Resources