Whatever story Leslye Headland had planned for The Acolyte‘s second season, we’re not going to see it. Lucasfilm has decided not to renew the divisive Star Wars prequel series set during the High Republic era, one never before chronicled in film or TV.
Set roughly 100 years before The Phantom Menace, the series followed the rise of the Sith as the Jedi Order face a murder investigation from within. The news comes as a shock considering the show’s initial buzz. There was a lot of excitement for the martial arts-inspired action sequences, and the diverse array of new characters portrayed by Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Jodie Turner-Smith, Manny Jacinto, and more.
The first episode drew millions of viewers and was one of the most-watched debuts on Disney+, but by the end of the season, viewership had fallen considerably. The Acolyte was plagued by angry review bombers who hated the show for its female-led cast and storyline that challenged the traditional good vs. evil structure of Star Wars.
I think it’s key to note that Star Wars fans have historically railed against stories that fail to portray the Jedi as infallible heroes. Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi was the first to introduce this idea and a vocal swath of fans rejected it. Lucasfilm could take this to heart in future films and TV shows. [Deadline]
