The Acolyte Disney+ series is one the most intriguing Star Wars projects on the horizon. As the Disney+ platform is increasingly being used to explore new stories taking place in the galaxy far, far away, The Acolyte will further back in the timeline than any other live-action Star Wars project for a look at the rise of the Sith following the era of the High Republic. With showrunner Leslye Heyland (Russian Doll) at the helm and a cast that includes Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae and Dafne Keen, The Acolyte is shaping up to be another exciting Star Wars adventure.
The Acolyte Disney+ series is one the most intriguing Star Wars projects on the horizon. As the Disney+ platform is increasingly being used to explore new stories taking place in the galaxy far, far away, The Acolyte will further back in the timeline than any other live-action Star Wars project for a look at the rise of the Sith following the era of the High Republic. With showrunner Leslye Heyland (Russian Doll) at the helm and a cast that includes Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae and Dafne Keen, The Acolyte is shaping up to be another exciting Star Wars adventure.
The Acolyte: Latest News
With filming currently taking place for The Acolyte Disney+ series, there have been some interesting reveals that shed new light on some aspects of the series. Unfortunately, The Acolyte has also gained attention in 2023 due to a legal dispute. Former The Acolyte producer Karyn McCarthy is taking Lucasfilm to court over a contractual debate (via THR). While this currently doesn’t impact production on The Acolyte, it’s still not a positive development.
Aside from this, set photos from filming have shown several of the main cast members. The behind-the-scenes images, released in December 2022, give a feel for The Acolyte’s High Republic setting. Despite the Sith featuring heavily in the show, The Acolyte set photos mostly reveal what appear to be Jedi characters, such as cast members Lee Jung-jae and Dean-Charles Chapman, in traditional Jedi robes. The photos also give a first look at Dafne Keen’s alien character who appeared to be a warrior, as well as the first Wookie Jedi appearing in the live-action Star Wars universe.
The Acolyte Release Date
There is no confirmed release date for The Acolyte Disney+ series. The show is currently filming with principal production beginning in October 2020. It is not likely that the show will release in 2023, as there are already three different Star Wars shows set for the year — The Mandalorian season 3, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew. With such a packed year already, Lucasfilm releasing its High-Republic show too would risk over-saturation. A 2024 release date for The Acolyte is much more likely, with confirmation perhaps coming on the annual Star Wars Day celebration on May 4, 2023.
The Acolyte Cast
The majority of The Acolyte Disney+ series cast has been announced, and there do not seem to be any recognizable characters leading the series. This isn’t surprising though, since it’s set centuries before any other Star Wars movie or show. Any known characters who could appear, such as Yoda, would be huge internet-breaking moments (so if they’re happening they’ll be kept under wraps). However, there is a solid cast in place with Amandla Stenberg leading The Acolyte in a Star Wars role that was written for her.
Lee Jung-jae and Dean-Charles Chapman seem to be playing Jedi knights judging by set photos with Chapman wearing the traditional padawan braid. Dafne Keen looks to be an alien warrior and part of a tribe of some sort. Other cast members include Jodie Turner-Smith, Margarita Levieva, Manny Jacinto, Charlie Barnett, and Carrie-Anne Moss all in undisclosed roles.
In terms of recognizable characters from the movies who could show up in the series, there are not too many who would fit into this timeline. However, a left-field inclusion could be Palpatine who as the series will reportedly touch on how a Sith infiltrated the senate (although it would need to explain how he’s able to use The Force to prevent his aging, and would require rewriting the Star Wars canon considerably). However, The Acolyte could introduce Darth Plagueis, Palpatine’s master, for the first time in a live-action Star Wars project.
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