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‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ is the upcoming Disney+ exclusive TV Series that will mark the first every live action glimpse for audiences at the period of (modern) ‘Star Wars’ history known as “The High Republic” era.
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So, please, read on as I break down all the latest news for this next entry in the expanding ‘Star Wars’ universe, as well as breaking down everything that we know about ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’, including an explanation of the new time period in which it takes place, “The High Republic era”.
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Latest News
07/11/2022:
Lucasfilm have just announced several big updates for the series across their social media channels. Beginning with the below photo confirming the main cast of the series:
While we had known about the castings of Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Jodie Turner-Smith, Manny Jacinto, and Charlie Barnett.
This latest cast update sees the series’ showrunner, Leslye Headland, reuniting with another of her ‘Russian Doll’ cast, Rebecca Henderson, in addition to confirming the (rumoured) casting of Dafne Keen, alongside Dean-Charles Chapman, and arguably the biggest name in the cast so far, the brilliant Carrie-Ann Moss.
Along with this cast photo, Lucasfilm also released the first ever on set still for the series showing leads, Stenberg, and Jung-jae, seemingly rehearsing a scene with Headland:
In addition, Lucasfilm have also released the first official synopsis for the series, and it’s not far from what I had predicted when I first wrote this article, as you can see below:
“‘”The Acolyte” is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.“
19/09/2022:
The Hollywood Reporter have exclusively broke the casting news that Charlie Barnett (Chicago Fire, Ordinary Joe, Russian Doll) will be joining the cast of the series’ first season in an as yet undisclosed role, re-uniting Barnett with ‘Russian Doll’ Showrunner, Leslye Headland, who is show running, writing, and directing ‘The Acolyte’ for Lucasfilm.
16/09/2022:
Per this exclusive article from Deadline, it has been revealed that Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Nine Perfect Strangers, Top Gun: Maverick) has now joined the cast of “The Acolyte” in an, as yet undisclosed, role.
08/09/2022:
Per Deadline, who were given the exclusive on this news. Squid Game star, Lee Jung-jae, has been cast in the lead male role of the series. The exact nature of the role is, as yet, undisclosed, though, given the title and synopsis of the show. I strongly suspect that he will be a Sith Master, with Amandla Stenberg‘s lead role being that of his Sith Apprentice or “Acolyte”.
07/09/2022:
As reported by Deadline, English actress, Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim, Anne Boleyn, After Yang), is said to be finalising a deal to star in the series in an, as yet, undisclosed role.
With Disney’s annual D23 fan event merely days away, expect an official announcement then along with, quite possibly, further casting announcements for the series, and possibly an exclusive first look as well.
So be sure to keep checking Videogamer regularly for all the latest news and updates from the event.
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‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ story?
Update – 07/11/2022:
In addition, Lucasfilm have also released the first official synopsis for the series, and it’s not far from what I had predicted when I first wrote this article, as you can see below:
“‘”The Acolyte” is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.“
Original Text:
At the moment, very little has been revealed about the story for “The Acolyte”, with the only official story confirmation so far being this official synopsis for the fledgling show:
“The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take the audience into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.”
What is “The High Republic era”?
The High Republic is a huge multimedia event launched by Lucasfilm in January 2021 with the intention of telling an epic, interconnected story, that would seamlessly be told across novels, comic books, audio books, children’s story books, and manga, and can be read either as individual stories, or, as one interconnected narrative, making it accessible to everyone.
In the current Star Wars universe timeline, “The High Republic” era is defined as the period of time, roughly 200 years before the events of ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’, and is described as being:
“a time of peace and prosperity in the galaxy far, far away. The Republic is thriving and the Jedi Order is at its zenith, with individual Force wielders and their students exploring the galactic frontier and keeping the peace. But the time is not without its conflicts.”
Throughout the stories, the Jedi masters and their apprentices that we follow, are seen in more elegant robes, and wield more elaborate lightsabers, than the Jedi that many of us are used to seeing in the prequel/”Galactic Republic” era as shown below:
As, in the images above, we can see the difference between the Jedi Masters of the “High Republic” era, and the Masters of the “Galactic Republic” era, as seen in Episodes I to III, ‘The Clone Wars‘, and the various comic book stories set in this era.
As the “High Republic” masters wear robes of pristine white and gold. While the “Galactic Republic” masters wear more humble robes of brown and cream, reflecting the change in attitude of the Jedi Order in the years after the “High Republic” era.
But, why is it so important to know all this, especially in relation to ‘The Acolyte’?
Well, the answer to that is because, when “The High Republic” era ended. It saw the end of the Jedi as galactic travellers searching out new worlds and civilisations that they could aid and to help the galaxy become more interconnected. And it also, crucially for the story of ‘The Acolyte’, sees them at their most vulnerable before the events of ‘The Clone Wars’ centuries later that would lead to their ultimate downfall.
As at the beginning of “The High Republic” stories, the Jedi are mapping the “Unknown Regions” of their Galaxy when they are attacked by a new, never before seen enemy, called “The Nihil“. Who, across ‘The High Republic’ stories released so far, have wrecked chaos and devastation everywhere they go, and have succeeded in murdering many of The Jedi Order by utilising technology and weapons that dwarf even the Jedi’s abilities.
With the Jedi’s attention so thoroughly distracted by “The Nihil” and their war on the galaxy. It is not impossible to imagine that the “Sith” of this time will be watching all of this chaos and utilising it for their own ends, sowing the seeds for their own conquest of the galaxy. The very conquest which we have already seen in the machinations of Palpatine throughout the Star Wars prequels and ‘The Clone Wars’.
Given the show’s synopsis, it is highly likely that we will see either the Sith Master or their apprentice of this era recruiting the titular Acolyte into the Sith order as their new apprentice, training them in the history, secrets, techniques, and combat of their order.
In addition, given the focus in “The High Republic” stories on the “Unknown Regions”, it is also quite possible that we will see them shown in some way over the course of the series. As not only are they where the iconic Imperial leader and Rebel enemy, Grand Admiral Thrawn, hails from. And, where he and young Jedi, Ezra Bridger, were transported at the climax of the ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ animated series, something which is looking increasingly likely to be a key plot point in the upcoming ‘Star Wars: Ahsoka’ live action Disney+ series.
But, it is also where the planet, Exegol, the ancient and powerful Sith world where, after his seeming death at the hands of his apprentice, Darth Vader, in ‘Return of the Jedi‘. The evil, Emperor Palpatine, amassed his new armada, and plotted to resurrect himself and rule the galaxy once more using the young Jedi, Rey.
Furthermore, with “The Acolyte” synopsis specifically mentioning “emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.“. It is very likely, especially given the focus that Exegol has received in the recent “Darth Vader” comic book series from writer, Greg Pak, that we will see the planet return in ‘The Acolyte’, possibly as a key location for the series.
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Release Date?
At the moment, there is no confirmed released date for the show, although, given that the D23 fan event takes place from September 9th 2022 to September 11th 2022, it is possible an official release date may be revealed then.
Although, should it not be, the show is scheduled to begin shooting in October 2022. So, I would expect it to potentially release, at the earliest, in September or October 2023, possibly early 2024.
Where can I watch ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’?
Upon release, the show will be available exclusively worldwide to subscribers of Disney+.
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Cast?
Amandla Stenberg in the, as yet undisclosed, female lead role
Lee Jung-jae in the, as yet undisclosed, male lead role
Jodie Turner-Smith in an, as yet undisclosed, role
Manny Jacinto in an, as yet undisclosed, role
Charlie Barnett in an, as yet undisclosed, role
Dafne Keen in an, as yet undisclosed, role
Rebecca Henderson in an, as yet undisclosed, role
Charlie Barnett in an, as yet undisclosed, role
Dean-Charles Chapman in an, as yet undisclosed, role
Carrie-Ann Moss in an, as yet undisclosed, role
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