Editorial: Why ‘The Acolyte’ Is My Most Anticipated ‘Star Wars’ Project of 2024
With 2023 coming to a close, it’s time to look forward to 2024. The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and The Bad Batch all wrapped up their respective seasons this year. At first sight, 2024 may not pack as many “heavy hitters” as compared to 2023. However, that may not be a bad thing at all. It could allow space for a few other shows and series to surprise audiences. And there’s one show that I think may surprise many: The Acolyte.
Leslye Headland’s series was announced going back to December 2020, but we were even hearing rumors about it before then. It’s now been confirmed to come out in 2024. For some fans, this release can’t come sooner enough. Here are four reasons why The Acolyte is my most anticipated Star Wars project for 2024.
The Acolyte Will Be the First Live-Action Depiction of The High Republic
There are a number of us here at Star Wars News Net who are big fans of The High Republic publishing initiative and for good reason. The High Republic is a unique period in Star Wars as it depicts the Jedi at the height of their power, two to three centuries before The Phantom Menace and before viewers and the galaxy saw the decline of the Jedi. During The High Republic, the Jedi are at their full strength and might, united in a very distinct way.
The Acolyte will be the first time the High Republic era will be shown in live-action. Up until now, this era has only been seen in books and comics, as well as a few glimpses in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and the animated series Young Jedi Adventures. But with The Acolyte, fans and larger audiences will be able to see the splendor of this period depicted with greater realism. We know the series takes place 100 years before The Phantom Menace, and that fan-favorite Vernestra Rwoh will appear in the series (played by Rebecca Henderson). But will other characters from the books and comics be featured?
There’s exciting potential just within the setting of The Acolyte.
A Story Told Through the Sith’s Perspective
There’s one aspect about The Acolyte that we’ve known about for a long time: the story will be told from the perspective of a Sith. This is a big deal considering how all of Star Wars’ other live-action endeavors have been told through the “good guys'” perspective. With The Acolyte, this is the first time live-action audiences will see the bad guys through their eyes.
This also creates a boatload of other fascinating questions. How many Sith are we going to see? How far back into Sith lore will the show go? Will the show depict the dark and sinister deeds that we all know the Sith are capable of? There’s a lot of potential to be had, and only time will tell if The Acolyte will capitalize on that potential.
The Acolyte and A One-of-a-Kind Cast
The cast list is one of the most exciting aspects of The Acolyte. There are several interesting talking points and discussions to be had about the performers and about who’s to be featured in the show that it’s hard to know where to start. There are industry veterans on the list like Carrie-Anne Moss and Lee Jung-Jae. There are up-and-coming rising stars like Amandla Stenberg and Dafne Keen. And it’s a widely diverse cast with individuals from all cultures, backgrounds, nationalities, and ethnicities.
Star Wars is a global phenomenon, and seeing performers from around the world like Lee Jung-Jae be allowed to make an impact on the series is exciting to see. If Star Wars: Visions has shown us anything, it’s that Star Wars benefits from having multiple voices and creators who can bring their own cultures and histories into the series. And it’s hoped that that can be the case here for The Acolyte as well.
An Emphasis on Action and Stunt Choreography
For those that were present at this year’s Star Wars Celebration, they were treated to a special action-packed sizzle reel. It highlights a key aspect that many of the cast and crew have been touting which is action and stunts.
From what we’ve heard, much of the cast and crew has been working hard on the show’s fight sequences and stunts. Charles Barnett and Manny Jacinto praised the action and stunt work, with Jacinto saying, “If you loved that sequence with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and Darth Maul, I think you’re going to enjoy this show.” Considering that lightsaber choreography has been somewhat lacking in Star Wars over the past few years, these remarks do spark some excitement. Also, in The High Republic era, there are multiple lightsaber-wielders in play which means there’s a lot of possibility for many clashes.
The High Republic Era Opens Up in 2024
In 2024, the High Republic era finally makes a live-action appearance with The Acolyte. And with it, a chance to provide Star Wars fans with something new and different. 2024 also marks the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace. And in many ways, The Acolyte is a great way to celebrate the anniversary. As the series looks back to an earlier time-period, where the Sith were beginning to rise, where the Jedi were much more powerful, and when lightsaber clashes were much more frequent, The Acolyte serves as a great way to honor the legacy of the Star Wars prequels.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Jay Goodearl runs the YouTube Gaming channel “Good Games, Dude” His channel aims to open up video games to beginners and immediate players and help them understand what makes games the art form that it is.
