The Star Wars saga is about to go to a bold new era in The Acolyte! See the stunning new trailer for the latest Disney+ series and how it sets up the prequels!
Usually, Star Wars sticks to the classic era from the prequels to just after Return of the Jedi, with the sequel trilogy taking place decades later. That ignores the Star Wars universe goes back a long way, as shown in the classic video game Knights of the Old Republic, which is set 4000 years before the movies.
Star Wars media, with the Expanded Universe novels, have played with times, but in recent years, it’s been divided into different eras. Among them is the “High Republic Era,” which is set 200 years before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
In this time period, the Sith have long been thought extinct but, in reality, holding to a “Rule of Two” of only a master and an apprentice at one time as they plot their revenge on the Jedi. The period has been home to various novels and is finally getting the live-action treatment via The Acolyte.
What’s The Acolyte about?
Naturally, Lucasfilm has been tight on details for the series but is finally announcing it is set a century before Episode I. The Republic is mostly at peace, with the Jedi as guardians aiding in disputes. When several Jedi turn up dead, a former padawan turned mercenary unites with her master to investigate.
The trailer hints at the dangers they face and how this is the first sign of the Sith reemerging. The action looks just as Star Wars fans expect, with alien worlds, races, a Wookie Jedi, and more while playing on elements like the Witches of Dathomir.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Leslye Headland explained this series is an important step in how the Sith rose to power in the prequels.
"I really wanted to tell a story about the Sith. That was kind of my dream Star Wars idea. But it felt like the time period to do that in would be something pre-Phantom Menace. That seemed to be the most interesting trajectory for the Sith: How did the Sith go from the Rule of Two and being quote-unquote ‘extinct’ to Palpatine coming into power without the Jedi knowing about it?"
Thus, the series can stand on its own while still laying the groundwork for the prequels and how they led to the Sith's revenge.
Who stars in The Acolyte?
The cast has some big names in it, with Carie-Ann Moss as a Jedi Master, Amandla Stenberg as Mae, the main character, with Lee Jung-jae as her former Master. There’s also Jodi Turner-Smith as a Witch, Dafne Keen as a young Jedi and Joonas Suotamo (who played Chewbacca in the sequel movies and Solo) as Kelnacca, the Wookie Jedi.
- Amandla Stenberg as Mae
- Lee Jung-jae as Sol
- Manny Jacinto as Qimir
- Dafne Keen as Jecki Lon
- Jodie Turner-Smith as Mother Aniseya
- Rebecca Henderson as Vernestra Rwoh
- Charlie Barnett as Yord Fandar
- Dean-Charles Chapman
- Carrie-Anne Moss as Indara
- Margarita Levieva
- Joonas Suotamo as Kelnacca
When does The Acolyte premiere?
The eight-episode series is set to debut on Disney+ on Tuesday, June 4. It’s unsure if Disney will have two episodes to start or not but the show will debut a new episode each Tuesday.
With a great new story set in an unseen era of the Star Wars saga, The Acolyte promises to be one of the best Star Wars projects in years when it hits Disney+ this summer.
The Acolyte premieres Tuesday June 4 on Disney+.