In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, The Acolyte’s showrunner, Leslye Headland, confirmed that the leader of the witches of Brendok, Mother Aniseya, has deep Star Wars lore origins. The Acolyte episode 7 finally revealed what really happened on Brendok 16 years before the events of The Acolyte, but a number of mysteries regarding Osha, Mae, and their family origins remain. Specifically, many theorized that the Brendok witches have connections to Star Wars’ other Force-sensitive witch coven, the Nightsisters of Dathomir.
Despite intense speculation that the witches of Brendok are Nightsisters, or at least are connected to them, The Acolyte’s showrunner, Leslye Headland, indicated otherwise in a recent exclusive interview with Screen Rant. In response to a question about whether the witches of Brendok have connections to any other Force cult, in Legends or otherwise, Headland explained:
“I guess the best way to put it is I wasn’t in a position to establish that in these eight episodes, so I didn’t do that. My personal opinion is that Aniseya probably originates from one of those cults, the one I won’t name, but that she’s based on the character Lauren from Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, that even at a young age, became essentially the de facto leader of people that believed in her and believed in the religion, I guess you would say, of what she felt around the Force and what she was able to do with her own power. So, the quick answer is that she established her own.”
Interestingly, it seems Headland has a very clear notion of Mother Aniseya’s origin story, although it evidently won’t be revealed in The Acolyte’s finale.
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Star Wars Brings Back A Terrifying Clone Wars Nightsister Force Power
The Acolyte’s witches of Brendok use a unique Force power that was previously used by the Nightsisters of Dathomir in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
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Which Star Wars Force Cult Does Aniseya Originate From?
Mother Aniseya
- Cast
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Jodie Turner-Smith
- Created By
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Leslye Headland
- First Appearance
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The Acolyte
- Alliance
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Unknown Coven of Witches
It seems, based on this interview, that Headland has identified a specific Force cult from which Mother Aniseya originated, but it isn’t the Nightsisters, as many had suspected. In fact, the nature of Headland’s response suggests that the original cult itself is nearly irrelevant, at least in The Acolyte season 1, as what matters is that Mother Aniseya struck out on her own and established a new coven. Even so, it’s difficult not to be curious about the roots of the witches of Brendok, especially because the group represents something brand-new in Star Wars.
Moreover, with Legends on the table, there are a number of Force cult possibilities, each of which has fascinating implications for Mother Aniseya. One prominent possibility is that Mother Aniseya was raised in the Legends cult, the Jensaarai. This group would prove particularly interesting as Mother Aniseya’s origin story because the group was known to pull from both Sith and Jedi teachings. While there is so much more left to understand, this does seem fitting for the witches of Brendok.
After all, while the coven—Mother Koril in particular—seems happy to draw upon the dark side when needed, therefore aligning with the Sith, the training scenes of Mae and Osha feel much more reflective of Padawan training in the Jedi Order. Although expectations were clearly high for the future Osha and Mae would bring, their Force (or ‘Thread’) training in The Acolyte episode 3 was much more focused on defense. This is surely more in keeping with the Jedi, particularly during the High Republic Era, who were meant to focus on defense and protection, not attacks and aggression.
Unfortunately, it seems these deeper questions about Mother Aniseya are unlikely to be answered in The Acolyte’s upcoming final episode. Headland specifically indicated that this origin story was not one she could fit into the eight episodes of season 1. However, hopes are high (not only for Headland but also in the franchise) that The Acolyte will be picked up for a second season, which would allow for a much deeper dive. For now, though, Leslye Headland has confirmed that The Acolyte’s Mother Aniseya comes from another Star Wars Force cult, although it isn’t the fan-favorite Nightsisters.
The final episode of The Acolyte releases on Tuesday, July 16th, at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
The Acolyte
*Availability in US
- stream
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- buy
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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
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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)
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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
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1
- Streaming Service(s)
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Disney+
- Franchise(s)
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Star Wars
- Writers
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Leslye Headland
, Charmaine De Grate
, Kor Adana - Directors
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Leslye Headland
, Alex Garcia Lopez - Showrunner
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Leslye Headland
