Fans are about to see Star Wars in a whole new light in the new series, The Acolyte. With its different setting, set during the High Republic era, putting the Sith Order at the fore, the franchise is about to try something new this time. Now, one of the series’ stars, Amandla Stenberg, reveals the show’s concept and how the creator, Leslye Headland, pitched her the idea.
In an interview with C Magazine, Stenberg admitted that being part of Star Wars is not an easy task. Aside from having the most loyal fans, there’s a huge backstory she has to absorb to know the story and play her role well in The Acolyte. However, as Headland, who also co-created Netflix’s Russian Doll, made the series with her in mind, it was hard for her to say no.
“All the artwork was conceptualized with my face,” she said.
The Hunger Games star then revealed that Headland told her she had been working on the series for about three or four years “for her,” and she wouldn’t know what to do if she refused. Anyhow, the showrunner assured Stenberg that she wasn’t pressuring her. But instead of being pressured, the singer-actress was over the moon. "I was sent to the moon, of course," she said.
The 25-year-old will play a former Padawan opposite Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae as a Jedi Master in The Acolyte. With this big responsibility, she admitted to having a “really, really heavy load in this show.” “An abnormal load,” she continued.
The crews are so hardcore, they’re so hardworking, and it’s very kind of hierarchical and competitive, and people work their asses off. It’s very different, I think, than what I’ve experienced on most American sets.
Amandla Stenberg Teases Star Wars: The Acolyte Storyline
Though Stenberg can’t say much about The Acolyte’s storyline, she knows that it takes place in the High Republic Era before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace occurs, calling it a “time of great peace” in the galaxy far, far away and a “time of an institution.” As the Galactic Republic was still at its height at the time, she continued that the conceptions around the Force were very strict.
That said, they will explore how power can be used and try to answer all the questions about it from different perspectives. “The idea is to kind of honor the ethos of Star Wars and ideas around the Force and also challenge them, hopefully harmoniously,” she explained.
What is Star Wars: The Acolyte about?
The Acolyte follows the story of a former Padawan reuniting with her Jedi Master to investigate the crimes happening in the galaxy. As they’re about to discover something they never thought of instead of the culprit behind these offenses, they will unveil the dark side of the Force’s secrets and growing powers.
You can read the synopsis below:
The Acolyte is set at the end of the High Republic era in a world of shadowy secrets and emerging dark side powers, approximately 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
Recently, news emerged that The Acolyte is set to be released on June 5, 2024, on Disney+. But though nothing is confirmed yet, there’s a growing anticipation for this new series.
