While details have been scarce about The Acolyte in the past months, it seems that Star Wars and Disney+ are boosting anticipation for its future release as they have revealed the very first look at the series, in addition to new information about its cast and story.
Similar to the personality of the Sith themselves, The Acolyte has been filled with mystery ever since Disney officially announced the project. New details have rolled out in the past weeks though, including a key casting update that Logan and His Dark Materials actress Dafne Keen joined The Acolyte in an unknown role.
In addition, a potential 2024 release date for the show could be in the cards as filming is set to begin soon. Fans got the slightest of glimpses at what the series would have to offer through behind-the-scenes looks at the show's set being built.
Now, Disney+ has broken its silence for The Acolyte, as exciting new details and the first proper showing of the series have been revealed.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Reveals First Look
Disney+ and Star Wars officially revealed new details about The Acolyte, confirming its stellar cast and a special behind-the-scenes look at its production.
The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland, who will also direct its pilot episode, can be seen giving instructions to Lee and Stenberg in this new image:
Alongside the previously announced Amandla Stenberg, the upcoming Star Wars series will feature Emmy Award-winner Lee Jung-Jae (Squid Game), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place), Dafne Keen (Logan), Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), Rebecca Henderson (Inventing Anna), Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll), Dean-Charles Chapman (1917), and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix).
The cast can be seen below:
The Acolyte is described as a mystery thriller that will explore "a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era."
Moreover, its first story details revealed that a former Padawan will reunite with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
Lucasfilm also confirmed that production for The Acolyte has begun in the United Kingdom. This is in line with the previous report from Bespin Bulletin that filming began at Shinfield Studios in Berkshire.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kenedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King, and Jason Micallef will serve as its executive producers while Rayne Roberts and Damian Anderson are producing.
How The Acolyte Can Expand the Star Wars Franchise
Although no details about the characters of The Acolyte have been revealed, the first behind-the-scenes image appears to tease that Netflix breakout actor Lee Jung-Jae could be the Jedi Master from the official synopsis, with Amandla Stenberg being the Padawan.
That said, these two characters could be poised to uncover the secrets of the dark side, leading to speculation if one or both of them could be seduced by it. More so, exploring the dark side of the Force also allows fans to discover how it became prominent while still managing to hide in the shadows.
The fact that a Jedi Master and a former Padawan are heavily involved could mean that the series involves a tragic storytelling of how a once noble light side user will fall to the dark side, given the sinister themes of the show.
Moreover, The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland also teased that the series will explore Star Wars "from the perspective of the bad guys," noting that they are "essentially the underdogs" during this era. Doing this creates more intrigue as some fans will unexpectedly root for them as the story moves forward.
With production now in full swing, it seems that a 2024 release timeline is plausible for The Acolyte.
