Manny Jacinto has stunned viewers with his incredible performance as Qimir / the Stranger in Star Wars: The Acolyte, with some even dubbing him one of the hottest Sith. Episode 5, Night, finally unveiled the identity of Mae’s (Amandla Stenberg) mysterious Master, who ended up being Qimir after Jecki (Dafne Keen) knocked his smiling helmet off, though, in exchange for her life. But though Qimir revealed then that he just wanted an acolyte and freedom, Jacinto breaks down what the Stranger really wants.
In an interview with The New York Times, Jacinto revealed that Qimir wanted to live on his own terms, the same thing his character said in The Acolyte Episode 5 when he faced Sol (Lee Jung-jae). However, this isn’t just simply about freedom but something deeper that involves being accepted in a place where he’s considered an outsider. He even said that he and showrunner Leslye Headland could relate to his character for being different.
"It’s always come down to this feeling of being an outsider, being in a place that doesn’t accept you," he said. "I think that’s the reason it really resonated with Leslye and me."
As a gay series creator and an Asian American actor, Jacinto explained that they always had to fight for their positions and prove themselves in the industry. To prove this, many questioned Headland’s involvement in the series, being the first female showrunner on a Star Wars TV show. Alternatively, despite the attempts at diversity in Hollywood movies and TV, Asian actors are often stereotyped, underrepresented, and rarely put in the spotlight.
"So, I think it really is just a parallel to that type of feeling of wanting to be accepted and wanting to be able to really express oneself," Jacinto continued.
Manny Jacinto Answers Questions About Star Wars: The Acolyte Finale
There are theories that Vernestra Rwoh (Rebecca Henderson) is Qimir’s former Jedi Master after he reveals to Osha (Stenberg) in Episode 6, Teach / Corrupt, that he used to be a Jedi. The assumptions get even stronger after Episode 8, The Acolyte, reveals that Vernestra knows Qimir, and she later asks Mae for help to find her former pupil who turned bad. So, when Jacinto was asked about this theory, he neither denied nor confirmed the claim but said it was a "fair assumption."
"I cannot confirm or deny, but with the evidence that’s been brought forward, especially in Episode 8, that’s a fair assumption," he stated.
Jacinto also addressed the possible return of The Acolyte for a second season after the finale’s major cliffhangers. Though he also has no idea if the show will be renewed, he knows Headland has several seasons in mind. So, he’s also crossing his fingers for the renewal.
"I think in Leslye’s mind, there are definitely more seasons to play, whether it would be a second season or three seasons or more," he continued. "I think there’s much more to tell. We’ll see. Fingers crossed. I’d be more than happy to run it back and do it again."
Fans may see more of Jacinto’s Qimir if Disney+ renews the show for a second season. True enough, the series still has a lot of stories to tell and questions to answer, not just about his character but the whole story itself.
All episodes of The Acolyte are available on Disney+.
