Set at the end of the High Republic era, a time of peace and prosperity throughout the galaxy, The Acolyte brings a Jedi Master and his former Padawan together. When a new threat to the Jedi and the galaxy at large begins to sink its claws into the galaxy, this former Padawan and Jedi Master will have to work together to try and discover who is at the heart of this power. As they begin to uncover the truth of this insidious darkness, they discover that the power behind this threat is more dangerous than they ever could have predicted.

The High Republic era takes place long before the Skywalker Saga with the Jedi acting as the peacekeepers Obi-Wan Kenobi once described them to be. It has largely been explored through novels and comics, but The Acolyte will be the first time this new era makes the jump from page to screen. Leslye Headland is able to show her passion for and deep understanding of Star Wars in The Acolyte while also bringing a new genre, mystery thriller, into the franchise, while also delving into a different fighting style, with hand-to-hand martial arts being a prominent part of this series.

Screen Rant interviewed The Acolyte star Lee Jung Jae about his new Star Wars series. He broke down why he wanted to show a different side of the Jedi in The Acolyte with Master Sol and how he stands out from the other Jedi Masters that have been a part of Star Wars. He also teased the complicated relationship between Master Sol and his former Padawan.

Lee Jung Jae Explains Why He Wanted Master Sol To Feel Fear In The Acolyte

The Jedi have often been shown to be without emotion, with Anakin Skywalker being a prime example of how emotions can open them up to corruption from the dark side. However, The Acolyte is set during a time when the Jedi were at the height of their power as peacekeepers across the galaxy. This means that many Jedi are likely to follow the code, but from different perspectives, with Master Sol being a prime example of how the Jedi of this era are different from those during the Skywalker Saga.

Lee Jung Jae: I had so many thoughts going into preparing for my role as Master Sol. I initially thought, “Should I mimic the preexisting Jedi Masters in this huge canon of Star Wars films and shows?”

But also you have to realize that The Acolyte occurs in a timeline that’s a hundred years previous to anything out right now, so Master Sol represents a past generation. If anything, the Jedi Masters that come after him are his younglings and Padawans. So, I wanted to express something different with Master Sol, and I think it’s that he actually feels fear while he is in battle and while he’s fighting. I wanted to add this humanistic element to him by expressing fear.

Lee Jung Jae Breaks Down The Acolyte’s Complex Jedi Master-Padawan Relationship

At the heart of the story of The Acolyte is the complicated relationship between Master Sol and his former Padawan, who walked away from the Order. Lee Jung Jae teased how this relationship continuously evolved throughout the series and praised Headland’s ability to develop this compelling dynamic.

Lee Jung Jae: I think director and showunner Leslye Headland does an incredible job developing the connection and the relationship between characters, and she does it with so much depth.

In terms of the relationship between [them], it develops and changes and morphs every episode. It’s really difficult to predict, so when I first read the script, that was the part that I was most curious about. “What is going to happen between Master Sol and his padawan?” I think it’s really going to make the audience want to binge the show.

About The Acolyte

A mystery-thriller that explores a new era in Star Wars, the end of the prosperous High Republic era. As shadowy secrets and dark side powers begin to emerge a former Padawan will reunite with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes. However, they soon learn that the forces they are up against are more sinister than anyone could have expected.

Check out our other The Acolyte interviews:

• Amandla Stenberg & Leslye Headland
• Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett & Manny Jacinto
• Jodie Turner-Smith & Rebecca Henderson

Source: Screen Rant Plus