Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Acolyte episode 7!
The Acolyte fight choreographer Christopher Clark Cowan has explained what it was like bringing a Wookie Jedi to life in the form of Master Kelnacca, revealing just how powerful such a character had to be. Kelnacca is a side character within The Acolyte‘s cast, a Jedi on Mae’s kill list who was involved in the incident on Brendok when she was a child. However, a flashback in episode 7 saw the Wookie Jedi ignite his lightsaber and fight, revealing just how powerful the new addition to the franchise is.
Speaking in a Star Wars report on The Acolyte‘s stunts, Cowan explained the process behind bringing a Wookie Jedi to life, including how powerful Kelnacca had to be. The fight choreographer explained how the character allowed for a different approach to lightsaber fights, one that embraces an “animalistic” style of combat. Check out what Cowan had to say about Kelnacca fighting below:
That was a fun one and also a tricky one to figure out. You have to take into account just the sheer strength of a Wookiee that would be behind his strikes with a saber. You can’t really just have a straight clash with a Wookiee because he’s going to knock you off balance. His saber is going to hit like a truck.
We really wanted him to be a bit more wild and more animalistic in his approach. I’d imagine if we saw Kelnacca fight in his own Jedi mind, he would use his strength, but it would be a bit more clean. But because the witches are inside his mind and bringing out his primal instincts, his form isn’t going to be immaculate. It’s not going to be perfectly precise. It’s going to be swinging wildly to take out whatever is in front of him, no matter the cost. And Joonas absolutely brought that to life. It was so cool to finally see him have a lightsaber!
This Fight Proves Wookiee Jedi Are TERRIFYING
Kelnacca Is a Formidable Opponent
One of the scariest fights that happens in The Acolyte episode 7 is when Kelnacca falls to the influence of the coven, the witches briefly controlling his mind and making him fight the other Jedi. His skill with a lightsaber makes it difficult for both Torbin and Sol to stop him on their own, coupled with a ferocity that could only come from a Wookie’s fighting style. While he’s eventually subdued thanks to Indara’s quick thinking, without her around, he could have easily killed the other two Force users.
What also bolsters the deadly nature of Kelnacca’s attacks is the fact that his fighting style is so different from that of his fellow Jedi. While the other lightsaber wielders during episode 7 had more sleek, fluid ways of battling, the Wookie’s was much more ferocious, leading to him almost killing the duo he was dueling with. Because of just how powerful he was, it’s clear he was one of the more skilled Jedi who went to Brendok, making him a formidable weapon depending on whose side he was fighting for.
While the future shows that Kelnacca was killed by Mae, his appearance opens the door for other Wookie Jedi to have prominent roles in future Star Wars TV shows and movies. If The Acolyte season 2 were to potentially happen, another Wookie wielding the Force could be revealed, embracing even more of the potential involved in such an interesting character. Since there’s still one episode left of the show set to air tonight, Kelnacca himself could make another appearance one more time.
Source: Star Wars
The Acolyte
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Season 1
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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
