Acolytes

Screenshot: LucasfilmStar Wars’ next live-action project is one of its most ambitious yet—a series that will bring a previously unexplored era to the small screen, and with it darkness. The Acolyte, a story that will foretell the downfall of the Jedi Order from its highest highs and examine the rise of the Dark Side, is nearly here, and we finally have a look at its sinister heart.Lucasfilm and Disney have released the very first trailer for Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte, the first live-action adaptation of Star Wars’…

Screenshot: LucasfilmThe Jedi are talking to Mother Aniseya, played by Jodie Turner-Smith, described as the leader of an independent “coven of witches” that places high value on the preservation of their practices and beliefs. While she’s an entirely new character, all her face markings, her gesturing, and her “Mother” title may have some High Republic fans’ minds afire: it certainly sounds a lot like the Path of the Open Hand.Introduced as a major faction in the second phase of High Republic stories—themselves set a…

You feel like for something to be “Star Wars,” there are only two prerequisites. One, set it in the stars. Two, there should be wars. But the upcoming Disney+ show The Acolyte is only embracing one of those staples. It’s very much set in a galaxy far, far, away but, for the first time, it’ll be set in a time of star peace.The show, which is expected to hit Disney+ in 2024, was created by Leslye Headland and is set near the end of the High Republic era in Star Wars. So, well before the prequels. But even at the start of…

Image: Marvel ComicsWe are, horrifyingly, less than 365 days away from another US presidential election year. But before that, we have another annual election of infinitely less dire and thus stressful consequences—picking which mutant joins the X-Men. And unlike years previous, you don’t have to be a diehard X-fan to know who all of the candidates are.This year’s field includes long-time fan-favorite Dazzler, X-Men: The Animated Series darling Jubilee, Juggernaut, one of the franchise’s best-known former villains, and…

Image: LucasfilmIt was announced way back on May 4 of 2020, but the newest Star Wars TV series has finally begun. The Acolyte, set in the final days of the High Republic era, has begun filming--with what turns out is an almost shockingly attractive cast.The Hate U Give’s Amandla Stenberg was already announced to star in the series, but she’ll be joined by Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae, The Good Place’s Manny Jacinto, His Dark Materials’ Dafne Keen, Russian Doll’s Charlie Barnett, Inventing Anna’s Rebecca Henderson, 1917's…

Image: NBC UniversalCasts for Star Wars’ various movies and films are almost always interesting, just because it’s fun to see who pops up. The cast for the next show, The Acolyte, recently added The Good Place’s Manny Jacinto and Squid Game’s Lee Jung-Jae to its strong lineup, and now the show’s got another solid addition in the form of Charlie Barnett.Barnett, best known as Alan in Netflix’s Russian Doll (and maybe also that brief stint as Deathstroke in Arrow’s final season), has reportedly in final negotiations to join…