THE NEWEST CHAPTER in the expansive Star Wars universe is The Acolyte, a Disney+ series which delves deep into the lore-rich history of the Jedi and the High Republic, and introduces new genre elements and a different perspective to the sci-fi and fantasy fans expect, to deliver a completely new kind of show.
When is The Acolyte set and what is it about?
As we all know, every Star Wars adventure takes place “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” And The Acolyte is taking things even longer ago, going further back in the fictional history of this universe than has ever been depicted on-screen before.
The Acolyte takes place around 100 years before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, during the height of the High Republic, when the Jedi were still plentiful in number, before the rise of the evil Sith. The series follows Jedi master Sol as he looks into a serious crime, an investigation which leads him to cross paths with a dangerous young woman who was once his Padawan.
Series writer and showrunner Leslye Headland, who previously co-created the genre-bending hit show Russian Doll, has said that her vision for The Acolyte was to tell a “mystery thriller” story set within the Star Wars universe, and to center characters that might traditionally be seen as villains in the good-vs-evil narrative.
“I pitched Frozen meets Kill Bill,” Headland said at a Star Wars Celebration panel in 2023. “What became apparent was that we’d need to set it between the High Republic and the prequels. This is when the bad guys are outnumbered. They are the underdogs.”
Who is in The Acolyte?
The Acolyte stars Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, best known to international audiences for his breakout performance in Squid Game, as Sol, a respected Jedi master, and Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) as Mae, his former student who now walks her own path.
The ensemble cast also includes Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place), Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll), Jodie Turner-Smith (After Yang), Dean-Charles Chapman (Game of Thrones), and Joonas Suotamo (Solo: A Star Wars Story).
Is there a trailer?
Star Wars fans got their first look at the High Republic setting and ensemble cast of young Jedi in The Acolyte when the first official trailer dropped on March 19. Check it out:
What is the release date?
The Acolyte will begin streaming on Disney+ on June 4, in a special two-episode premiere event. New episodes will then arrive on the streaming platform weekly.
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