Rebecca Henderson, who portrays Vernestra Rwoh in Star Wars’ upcoming TV show The Acolyte, has revealed some of the secrets surrounding her epic weapon, the lightwhip. This lightsaber type was first introduced in Star Wars Legends, previously known as the Expanded Universe, and has since become canon in the High Republic era. Vernestra is the Jedi who wields the purple weapon, something seen often with her character in the High Republic books and comics. Now, it will finally be seen in live-action, and Henderson is revealing some secrets about it ahead of its debut.

While speaking with Collider, Henderson reveals exactly how the weapon is activated into its whip form, and the dangers that can come with it. She first breaks down the mechanics of it, informing viewers of a “twist” in the hilt that allows the lightsaber to transform into a whip, and then explains how Vernestra is able to do this so easily. Now that she’s comfortable with the weapon, having wielded it for many years, she can even use the Force to activate this feature.

You do have to twist the hilt to turn it into the light whip, basically. At this point, I believe she can do that with the Force. She no longer has to do it with her hands. And then you just have to be really careful because that thing flies around. It could take your head off.

Still, Henderson speaks about the dangers of such a weapon, particularly with its freedom of movement. Even though its intentional activation with the twist in the hilt helps to an extent, the way the whip flies around makes it easier to harm not just unintentional targets, but also the wielder themselves. Vernestra’s ability to wield this weapon with such confidence thus proves how skilled she is as a Jedi, something that will no doubt be showcased in The Acolyte.

One Of The Oldest Lightsaber Variants Is Appearing In Live-Action At Last

Nearly 40 Years After Its Debut, This Lightsaber Variant Is Finally Making An On-Screen Appearance

What’s perhaps most exciting about the lightwhip is that its appearance in The Acolyte will make good on lore that first debuted nearly 40 years ago. In 1985, the comic Star Wars (1977) 95 by Mary Jo Duffy introduced the lightwhip through the Sith Lady Lumiya, who wielded the weapon in a fight against Luke Skywalker himself. It went on to appear a few more times throughout Legends before ultimately returning to canon with Vernestra, and now, it will finally be seen in live-action.

This is just the first of many Expanded Universe hat-tips The Acolyte already has and will continue to make, thanks to showrunner Leslye Headland’s passion for the Legends continuity. This, however, also makes good on canon material by bringing an important element of the High Republic to life, which makes the lightwhip’s live-action debut even more special. Though it’s already been teased in a recent trailer, the lightwhip will no doubt see some more incredible action in The Acolyte, which is set to release in just one more week.

The Acolyte premieres on June 4 on Disney+.

Source: Collider