Star Wars’ next live-action TV show will explore emerging dark side powers in the High Republic, leading many to wonder if legendary Sith warriors like Darth Bane or Darth Plagueis will appear in The Acolyte. The Acolyte will debut with a two-episode premiere on June 4, 2024, and be set in Star Wars’ High Republic era. The first trailer for The Acolyte offered an insight into the show’s story, teasing a sinister plot against the Jedi as the guardians of peace and light reckon with the possible return of the Sith.
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Star Wars: The Acolyte Trailer Breakdown
The first trailer for Star Wars’ The Acolyte is finally here, bringing several interesting reveals, Easter eggs, and references along with it.
With The Acolyte promising a distinctly dark-sided twist on Star Wars, many are curious about which characters will appear in the show. While Amandla Stenberg’s Mae is being positioned as the titular Sith Acolyte, it could be the case that other, more powerful, ancient Sith characters appear in the upcoming Star Wars TV show. With that in mind, questions are being raised about two of Star Wars‘ most iconic Sith Lords, and whether the likes of Darth Bane or Darth Plagueis could appear in The Acolyte‘s Star Wars story.
Darth Bane & Darth Plagueis Are Not Confirmed For The Acolyte
Despite the overall Sith-inclined story promised by The Acolyte, neither Darth Bane nor Darth Plagueis are officially confirmed for appearances in the show. Intriguingly, there are currently no Sith characters officially confirmed for the Disney+ series, with only Stenberg’s aforementioned Mae being outlined as a potential villain in the updated Star Wars Databank. Therefore, it is currently not a guarantee that Sith Lords like Darth Bane and Darth Plagueis will appear in The Acolyte, though that will not stop theories from being constructed about the dark characters.
Why Darth Bane Probably Won’t Appear In The Acolyte
While several rumors and theories have been circulated about Darth Plagueis, it is highly unlikely that Darth Bane will appear in The Acolyte. The reason for this stems from The Acolyte‘s place on the Star Wars timeline. The Acolyte will take place around 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, meaning Darth Bane lived 900 years before the show begins in the time of the Old Republic.
This timeline makes Bane’s appearance as a living being incredibly unlikely during The Acolyte, though there is one way he could have a presence. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Darth Bane appeared to Yoda in a Force-infused vision. Given that The Acolyte centers around the emergence of Sith powers in the galaxy for the first time since Bane’s defeat, it could well be possible that another vision similar to that of The Clone Wars allows Darth Bane to have a fleeting appearance in The Acolyte. Besides this admittedly unlikely possibility, Bane probably will not appear in the show.
How Darth Plagueis Could Appear In The Acolyte
Conversely, while Bane’s appearance in the upcoming show is unlikely, the appearance of Darth Plagueis in The Acolyte is much more likely. The fabled Sith Lord who was the master of Palpatine has not been outright confirmed for the show, but the aforementioned timeline could line up perfectly for Plagueis to have a role in the show. Given that Palpatine was 52 years old during The Phantom Menace, it would mean the character was born around 20 years after the events of The Acolyte.
If it is to be assumed that Palpatine began learning the ways of the Sith from Plagueis at around the ages of 20 or 30, it could be possible that the latter Sith Lord is around 60 or 70 during the time of The Acolyte. This would mean he would be old enough to begin training Palpatine in the ways of the Force before his apprentice murders him, as mentioned in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Taking into account the long life of Muuns in Star Wars, the race Plagueis belongs to, it could easily be possible that the Sith Lord appears in The Acolyte.
Which Other Star Wars Characters Could Return In The Acolyte
Aside from the likes of Plagueis or Bane, however unlikely, appearing in The Acolyte, some known Star Wars characters could return in the show. The first of which is perhaps one of the most iconic characters in the franchise: Yoda. During the time of the High Republic, Yoda still served as one of the Grand Masters of the Jedi Council. Interestingly, the Jedi Council had three Grand Masters during the High Republic. One of these was Yoda, while the other two were new characters called Lahru and Pra-tre Veter.
This sets up Yoda’s likely appearance in The Acolyte, should the Jedi of the show wish to consult the Grand Master at any point in the show. There are two other characters who could also return in The Acolyte, though they are admittedly lesser known. The first is Oppo Rancisis, a Thisspiasian member of the Jedi Council who appeared in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Rancisis appears in several High Republic books, meaning an appearance in The Acolyte is also a possibility.
Another Jedi Council member seen in the background of the Star Wars prequels was Yarael Poof. This character was another Jedi who served on the Council during the High Republic era, meaning a potential role could be found for him in The Acolyte. Interestingly, Darth Plagueis’ master, Darth Tenebrous, is canon in Star Wars. If Plagueis appears, it remains the case that Tenebrous could too. Despite the different placement of The Acolyte on the Star Wars timeline, several characters – Bane and Plagueis included – could play a vital role in proceedings.
