As theStar Warsfranchise creeps toward its next phase,The Acolytewill harken back to the last big trilogy to hit theaters, specifically Rian Johnson’sThe Last Jedi.
The Acolytewill take place towards the end of the High Republic era - hundreds of years after the fall of the Old Republic and about one hundred years before the events ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Created by Leslye Headland and starring Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae,Star Wars: The Acolytewill follow two Jedias they investigate a series of crimes leading to a shocking and sinister discovery. Although a release date has yet to be announced, production for the eight-episode series is well underway.
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Recently, Headland revealed new details about the show. Speaking with Steve Weintraub ofCollider, Headland comparedThe AcolytetoRian Johnson’sStar Wars: The Last Jedi. Headland discussed her thoughts about exploring the fallibility of the Jedi Order, saying, “I think it’s difficult to do a show that is critical in any way of the Jedi. And I think that you saw that with [Rian Johnson’s] film. Do you know what I mean? Like, I think that, especially in that moment, people were very nervous about saying this particular institution may not be the light and perfect, stunning group of heroes that are totally nobly intentioned. And one thing that I think Dave would say is that they are fallible. That’s really the story that George told with the prequels, right? The fall of this particular group.”
While his exploration of the more problematic sides of the Jedi Order inspired some of the most fervent backlash, it wasn’t the only element of the movie fans took issue with. Some criticized the movie’s sillier moments, as they felt the moments were totally out of place in the movie. Others specifically disagreed with Johnson’s decision to make Luke Skywalker bitter and disenchanted with the ways of the Jedi - which seemingly found its foundation inGeorge Lucas' ideas for his own Star Wars sequel trilogy. The art book forThe Last Jedifeatured Lucas' ideas - many of which Johnson used as inspiration for the movie. So, while presenting the Jedi as imperfect may not always be popular among fans, it’s something Lucas thinks is important to the franchise.
Although it’s far too early to gauge how fans will react toThe Acolyte, there’s plenty of reason to believe it will be received well. The franchise’s television shows have received praise from fans and critics, with even the weaker entries likeThe Book of Boba Fettstill garnering praise. In contrast, the movies have gotten mixed reviews. It may be that an eight-episode series will be able to explore theimperfections of the Jedi Orderbetter than a two-hour movie. However the series lands among fans, it will be exciting to see a new part of theStar Warstimeline explored.
