For the very first time ever in live-action, Star Wars is venturing outside of the Skywalker Saga. That journey will begin on June 4, when The Acolyte debuts with a two-episode premiere. It’s been a long time coming since the series was first announced, and the promotion for the show is kicking into high gear now.
The first publicly released trailer for the series dropped on Tuesday, following a poster reveal on Monday. And it looks terrific. The series is set at the end of the High Republic era, approximately 100 years prior to the events of The Phantom Menace. The High Republic has been a major focus for Star Wars publishing over the last few years, with plenty of books and comics to go alongside an animated kids TV series, Young Jedi Adventures. The Acolyte looks to be a darker, more mysterious story exploring the rise of darkness that eventually paves the way for the return of the Sith as we see in the prequel trilogy. As the tag-line in the trailer and on the poster says, “In an age of light, a darkness rises.” It’s a twist on what Star Wars is used to, but it sounds like a fresh take on the universe we’ve come to love.
The official synopsis for the show highlights the dark intrigue:
In 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 Acolyte is developed by Leslye Headland, who is the creator, showrunner, and executive producer, while also serving as the director of the first two episodes. Joining Headland as executive producers are Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King, and Jason Micallef. The series stars Amandla Stenberg as the former Jedi Padawan Mae, Lee Jung-jae as respected Jedi Master Sol, Manny Jacinto as the former smuggler Qimir, Dafne Keen as the Jedi Jecki Lon, Carrie-Anne Moss as Jedi Master Indara, and more.
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