The Acolyte is the next Star Wars live-action TV series coming to Disney+ in a few weeks, and it's going back even further in time in the galaxy far, far away, further than the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Star Amandla Stenberg, who plays a mysterious character named Mae in The Acolyte, promises that the new series will blend the regal tone of the prequel movies yet also feel contemporary. Set in the High Republic era, which takes place 100 years before the story of Anakin Skywalker, The Acolyte features new perspectives never seen in live-action before.
"We are the prequel to the prequels," Stenberg told Total Film, via GamesRadar. "And the prequels have this kind of prestige to them, this monarchical vibe. So one of my main questions going in was: are we going to maintain that sensibility? And yes, in many ways we do, while also incorporating elements that feel really contemporary and relatable. When I watched [the finished episodes] I was really struck by how universal the story was."
What is The Acolyte about?
Star Wars: The Acolyte will be set in the High Republic era, which has never been depicted in live-action before. Chronologically, The Acolyte will be set 100 years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, so more familiar characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Count Dooky were not even born yet.
The official synopsis of Star Wars: The Acolyte reads:
In Star Wars: 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….
The cast of The Acolyte includes Charlie Barnett, Lee Jung-jae, Carrie-Anne Moss, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Joonas Suotamo, and Manny Jacinto. Leslye Headland is the showrunner of the series.
The Acolyte is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on June 5.
