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Warning! This post contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Acolyte.

A training video for Star Wars: The Acolyte revealed behind-the-scenes footage of Qimir/the Stranger actor Manny Jacinto practicing for the incredible lightsaber battles seen in Star Wars’ newest TV show. Jacinto was first introduced as Mae’s accomplice, but The Acolyte episode 5 revealed that he was in fact the masked figure presumed to be a Sith Lord. While this twist was exciting enough, the episode was also jam-packed with some of the most brilliant lightsaber battles in all Star Wars movies and TV shows, and the scenes prominently featured Jacinto’s incredible lightsaber skills.

Posted by ComicBook on X, the video demonstrates how extensive Manny Jacinto’s training was for his role as Qimir/the Stranger in The Acolyte and the impressive level of skill he achieved. Delightfully, the video is also highly reminiscent of the behind-the-scenes footage from the Star Wars prequel trilogy showcasing Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen training in a very similar fashion.

This skill set becomes even more impressive in light of how heavily Jacinto had to keep his training under wraps—in fact, Jacinto has since spoken about how difficult it was to maintain the lies required to be part of The Acolyte.

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The Acolyte Episode 5’s Sith Reveal Threatens To Break Star Wars Canon

The reveal of the mysterious Sith Lord in The Acolyte episode 5 has the potential to break Star Wars canon, and it’s unclear how they’ll fix it.

For Two Years, Manny Jacinto Claimed He Never Wielded A Lightsaber

Manny Jacinto certainly isn’t the first Star Wars actor to share how stressful it was to keep secrets regarding his role, but he did reveal in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that it was a difficult two years as he worked to conceal his part in The Acolyte. Jacinto explained:

“I’ve been lying to people for the last two years — to their faces…Some of them, they straight up call me out and they’re like, ‘I don’t trust what you’re saying.’ Some of them believe me. But I’ve been lying, and it gives me a lot of anxiety, having to lie to people.”

In Jacinto’s case, this was even more taxing, as his character’s true identity was a major plot twist. It wasn’t until The Acolyte episode 5 that the show revealed that Jacinto’s quirky character, Qimir, is really the masked figure presumed to be a Sith Lord.

Star Wars is known for its massive plot twists, so Jacinto’s experience is not an anomaly, but it’s clear that the actor is now breathing a sigh of relief with episode 5 revealing so much more about his character. However, it’s evident that not all the secrets are out yet. Indeed, while the Stranger is positioned as Star Wars’ newest Sith Lord, there’s a fair bit of evidence he may not be a true Sith after all. There’s still plenty left for The Acolyte to uncover about the Stranger, his origins, and his fate.

Notably, audiences are particularly curious to see how Star Wars explains the Stranger’s existence without a retcon, given that the Jedi in the prequel trilogy said the Sith were extinct for a millennium. As The Acolyte is set 100 years before the prequels in the Star Wars timeline, this will certainly require some explanation. For now, though, the revelation that Manny Jacinto’s character is so much more than Mae’s accomplice has thankfully brought to light incredible videos such as this Star Wars: The Acolyte training video, showcasing Jacinto’s impressive skills.

New episodes of The Acolyte release on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.

Sources: ComicBook, Entertainment Weekly

The Acolyte

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The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes – all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

Cast: Amandla Stenberg
, Lee Jung-jae
, Joonas Suotamo
, Charlie Barnett
, Dafne Keen
, Leah Brady
, Manny Jacinto
, Rebecca Henderson
, Carrie-Anne Moss
, Jodie Turner-Smith
, Dean-Charles Chapman
, Lauren Brady
, Anthony J. Abraham
, Thara Shöön
, Danielle Xin Yao Waterman
, Sienna Khiroya
, Jeramiah Evans
, Dan Milne
, Thomas Coombes
, Archie Singh Swali
, Nick Court
, Ed Kear
, Jumayn Hunter
, Scroobius Pip
, Abigail Thorn
, Margarita Levieva
, Amy Tsang
, Saskia Allen
, Deborah Rosan
, Tabitha Alege
, Paul Bullion
, Indra Ové
, Derek Arnold
, Lewis Young
Character(s): Mae
, Master Sol
, Kelnacca
, Yord Fandar
, Jecki Lon
, Little Mae
, Qimir
, Master Vernestra Rwoh
, Master Indara
, Mother Aniseya
, Master Torbin
, Padawan Torbin
, Little Osha
, Fillik
, Tasi Lowa
, Youngling
, Restrained Convict
, Convict
, Olega Urchin
, Olega Master
, Olega Padawan
, Scavenger
, Ensign Eurus
, Mother Koril
, Ensign Rane
, Scout Sarria
, Ensign Shima
, Elder Jaalyn
, Master Lakshay
, Master Holden
, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi
, Jedi Knight
Seasons: 1
Streaming Service(s): Disney+
Franchise(s): Star Wars
Writers: Leslye Headland
, Charmaine De Grate
, Kor Adana
Directors: Leslye Headland
, Alex Garcia Lopez
Showrunner: Leslye Headland