Star Wars: The Acolyte is yet to hit the small screen, but the series is already facing a backlash among some franchise fans. For one, it’s not only created by a female showrunner but also features a diverse cast with a focus on female characters. Hence, some dubbed it The Wokelyte. Also, due to the fear of ruining the canon, many raise their concerns over the story's direction, setting the series during the High Republic Era, a time that has yet to be explored in live-action. So, to stop all these clamors, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has finally broken her silence and addressed these issues.
In an interview with The New York Times, Kennedy discussed the challenges the female filmmakers faced when spearheading a Star Wars project in a male-dominated space. The producer admitted that the likes of The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland “struggle” with fan backlash, adding operating a huge franchise like this was already “terrifying” due to social media and fans’ high expectations.
“I think Leslye has struggled a little bit with it,” she said. “I think a lot of the women who step into Star Wars struggle with this a bit more.”
Knowing the fanbase is male-dominated, the producer revealed that female filmmakers were attacked in ways that could be quite personal. Though Kennedy is a woman herself, she strongly believes anybody, whether a man or a woman, can create and tell a story.
“My belief is that storytelling does need to be representative of all people,” she continued. “That’s an easy decision for me.”
Leslye Headland Addresses the Growing Hate for Star Wars: The Acolyte
Headland also addresses the growing hate for The Acolyte. To understand the haters, the Russian Doll creator puts herself in their shoes, trying to understand where the frustrations come from as a Star Wars fan herself. However, she believes the fandom has no place for “bigotry, racism, and hate speech.”
“As a fan myself, I know how frustrating some Star Wars storytelling in the past has been. I’ve felt it myself. I stand by my empathy for Star Wars fans,” she explained. “But I want to be clear. Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism, or hate speech … I don’t consider a fan.”
Given the Star Wars universe's massive history, Headland also tackles the hardships of doing The Acolyte. But aside from its over five decades of lore, she finds meeting fans’ high expectations more difficult.
“You’re thinking, ‘This is what people want from Star Wars. This is what people don’t want.' It can mess with your head,” she revealed. “During the creative process, I had to give myself the forgiveness, as an artist, to fall off the razor — as long as I got back up. That was my promise to myself.”
What is Star Wars: The Acolyte about?
The Acolyte will see Jedi Master Sol investigating the series of Jedi killings in the Galaxy. He will then find himself pitted against a dangerous warrior from his past, Mae. But despite their conflict, the two will go on a journey together to find the mysterious murderer. They will then find themselves on a dangerous path where evil forces are more sinister than they thought.
You can read Star Wars: The Acolyte synopsis below:
In The Acolyte , an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master against a dangerous warrior from his past. As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems….
Despite the backlash, both Kennedy and Headland remain committed to inclusive storytelling. Headland aims to deliver new perspectives in the Star Wars universe by featuring a diverse cast. With the early positive reviews The Acolyte receives, it looks like it will meet fans’ expectations.
The Acolyte’s two-episode premiere is scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 4, on Disney+.
