The Acolyte has become one of the most controversial Star Wars series even before it premiered. It fell victim to review-bombing, massive hate, criticism, and backlash. Many criticized the show for being created by an openly queer person, Leslye Headland, for featuring a diverse cast with a focus on female characters, and for allegedly ruining the canon by being set in the High Republic era. Now that these criticisms have intensified with the show’s cancellation, Manny Jacinto, who played Qimir / the Stranger, addresses the backlash against The Acolyte.
In an interview with Nuvo Magazine, Jacinto shared his perspective on the constant backlash and criticism The Acolyte faced, even though the show had already ended. While it’s not the only Star Wars project to suffer such a negative response, the amount of vitriol it received is astonishing. The attacks went so far that the editors of Wookieepedia received death threats, and the actors themselves were targeted. The Filipino-Canadian actor himself experienced the same, and here’s his response to the racist backlash:
“I try not to get too caught up in it because it’s just a black hole,” he said. “I also learned early on in my career that if you’re going to believe the good, you have to believe the bad.”
Despite the hate, Jacinto wanted to focus on the childhoods he could still shape with his latest Star Wars role rather than on the “aging” critics who claimed the show was ruining theirs. He believed that older fans were trying to hold onto the same feelings they experienced when they were younger and began to hate when those feelings didn’t match the new things they saw.
“I have to remind myself that kids or younger teens can be inspired by this,” he continued. “What I hope to do with The Acolyte is to inspire those younger Asian boys who want to see themselves on screen. That’s what’s more important to me.”
As one of the biggest franchises in the industry, there's no denyting that Star Wars has a vast and vocal following. Some have resisted changes to the canon, directing their anger toward the increasingly diverse cast. Aside from Jacinto and Amandla Stenberg, who have also been subjected to racist backlash, Kelly Marie Tran, John Boyega, and Moses Ingram have similarly suffered after joining the franchise.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Cancellation Saddens Manny Jacinto's Fans
Deadline broke the news about The Acolyte’s cancellation due to a decline in viewership. Sadly, the announcement came on August 19, which was also Jacinto’s birthday. As a result, the actor’s fans were saddened by this unfortunate turn of events, with many expressing their frustrations on X.
User @meltborn claimed that canceling The Acolyte on Jacinto’s birthday was “beyond evil.”
User @SkyeMcKenna77 couldn’t help but question the cancellation after a new villain was added to the canon connected to Darth Plagueis.
Filipino X user @alamyching stressed that there’s a dire need for more Filipino roles in Star Wars, and having Jacinto in The Acolyte gives him a new level of inclusivity.
But for user @s1thlcrd, Jacinto was too hot for Disney to handle.
Despite the cancellation, fans still hope that The Acolyte Season 2 will happen, using the hashtag #RenewTheAcolyte on X. Jacinto has been lauded for his portrayal of the Stranger, with some even calling him one of the hottest Sith. Though it remains to be seen if he will appear in other Star Wars projects, it can't be denied that fans still want to see more of Qimir.
All episodes of The Acolyte are available on Disney+.
