If you’re sick to death of stories based on the Skywalkers (and all their relatives and friends), we have good news for you. Soon, you’ll be able to watch a brand new series from the Star Wars universe which will take you to a world that existed decades before Anakin was born.
The Acolyte is one of the most mysterious tales from all the upcoming Star Wars shows. It’s created by Russian Doll showrunner Leslye Headland, and the story will be set during an era we’ve never seen on the screen before.
We’ve flown around the galaxy (well, internet) to find everything we know about this latest show, along with the Obi-Wan Kenobi series and the Rogue One prequel Andor. Alternatively, you can check out how to watch all of the Star Wars shows and films in order.
When will The Acolyte premiere?
Disney has confirmed that the next Star Wars series will debut on 4 June 2024. We don’t yet know if episodes will release weekly, or drop all at once.
Here’s the teaser poster for the series – a trailer will drop on 19 March 2024:
What is The Acolyte about?
Here is the first official blurb from Disney:
“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.
In case you don’t know, the High Republic era was a few hundred years before the period shown in the films, when the Republic was, well, at its height. Expect to see the Jedi Order in full swing, and likely up against some Sith threats we haven’t seen before.
Creator Leslye Headland revealed in an interview with The Wrap that the way the Jedi acted in The Phantom Menace inspired her as a creator. She wondered why the Jedi didn’t react to Anakin’s presence, and wanted to know more about Darth Maul.
We don’t specifically know how these events will tie into The Acolyte, but perhaps thematically, they will be similar.
Since then, Disney has released another description via the official Star Wars website:
In The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems….
So, it appears that the Star Wars series will take inspiration from detective and noir genres.
Lucasfilm
Who is starring in The Acolyte?
The following cast members are confirmed to appear in the series:
- Carrie-Anne Moss
- Amandla Stenberg
- Lee Jung-jae as a Jedi Master
- Joonas Suotamo as Kelnacca, a Wookiee Jedi
- Rebecca Henderson as Vernestra Rwoh
- Jodie Turner-Smith
- Dafne Keen
- Manny Jacinto
- Charlie Barnett
- Charlie Barnett
- Dean-Charles Chapman
Who is involved in the series?
The series showrunner is Leslye Headland, best known for her work as co-creator, showrunner and executive producer of Netflix comedy Russian Doll. Headland showcased how she’d made her love for Star Wars permanent with a Princess Leia tattoo – stating how excited she was to take on the new series.
Headland has stated that she’s assembled a diverse crew, with different opinions on the lore of the franchise.
The project was officially announced by LucasFilm and Disney, alongside news that Taika Waititi would direct a new Star Wars feature film.
How to watch the new Star Wars series
The new series will be another Disney Plus exclusive, joining The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars. If you don’t have a Disney+ account yet, you can sign up on the website for $7.99 / £4.99 per month for an ad-supported tier. You can also choose an ad-free subscription for $10.99 / £7.99 per month.
