Star Wars: The Acolyte Star Reveals How Many Seasons Were Planned Before Cancellation (And We’re Furious)

As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the Star Wars universe, I must confess that the cancellation of “The Acolyte” leaves me with a mix of disappointment and intrigue. The idea of three seasons, culminating in a movie, seemed like an exciting journey into the High Republic era, a realm largely unexplored on screen thus far.

Actor Manny Jacinto, known for his role in “The Acolyte”, shared that three seasons of the Star Wars series were initially planned before it was ultimately cancelled. During a panel at Fan Expo moderated by Collider, Jacinto spoke about his time in the galaxy far, far away. Discussing “The Acolyte” – which was terminated after one season – Jacinto offered some insights into showrunner Leslye Headland’s plans for the series, explaining what her initial concept was for the show.

Leslye’s original vision was for us to complete three seasons, not just one. However, Jacinto mentioned that having a definite conclusion can make things feel extra special. So, he wasn’t sure if he would do it or not, but three seasons and a movie could have been fantastic, and I believe there was so much more we could have delved into with the second season.

Making its appearance during the summer, “The Acolyte” represented the Star Wars franchise’s inaugural on-screen portrayal of the High Republic era, unfolding a narrative approximately 100 years prior to “The Phantom Menace”. Despite receiving praise from critics, it swiftly emerged as one of the most contentious Star Wars productions during the Disney era. Regrettably, this project was terminated back in August. More recently, Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman clarified the reasons behind this decision, attributing it to the exorbitant costs associated with producing a second season for “The Acolyte”. The single season of the show had a budget surpassing $230 million for eight episodes.

Before the cancellation of “The Acolyte”, the showrunner had expressed optimism about potential additional seasons. Particularly, he was eager to delve deeper into the character Darth Plagueis, given his surprise appearance in the finale. According to Jacinto, Plagueis would have been included for sure if Season 2 had been given the green light. Plagueis was one of several plotlines in “The Acolyte” that now appear to remain unresolved; the finale also featured an appearance from Yoda, a character that Headland worked hard to include during development.

Given the events in the finale of ‘Acolyte’, it’s no wonder that the creative team had plans for multiple seasons. It’s disappointing that Headland & Co won’t get to witness this vision come alive. Beyond exploring the mysteries of Plagueis and Yoda, we would have loved to delve deeper into Jacinto, also known as the Stranger or Qimir. His character, brilliantly portrayed by the actor, has already captured fans’ hearts, and there was so much more potential in his story. As Jacinto hinted, Season 1 merely touched the surface; Qimir had the potential to become even more intriguing with further development. In particular, his alliance with Osha on the dark side presented a dynamic that would have been captivating to witness, especially considering the entrance of Plagueis into the picture.

It’s also a shame that the first on-screen foray into the High Republic era was cut so short. Many of the Star Wars movies and TV shows are condensed into a brief period of time on the franchise timeline and primarily stem from the original trilogy. While the Plagueis and Yoda cameos served as some connective tissue to the Skywalker saga, The Acolyte largely stood on its own with a narrative far removed from what had come before. As Lucasfilm struggles to figure out the next slate of Star Wars movies, the High Republic could have been a realm to further explore different stories, expanding the property’s rich lore. Acolyte characters will appear in published materials, but it remains to be seen if Lucasfilm rolls the dice on another High Republic on-screen project.

Read More

2024-12-25 02:09