Lucasfilm is betting everything on the success of Star Wars: The Acolyte, even commissioning the kind of tie-ins that usually accompany the movies. Created by Leslye Headland, Star Wars: The Acolyte is a bold step forward for the entire franchise. The next Star Wars Disney+ TV show is taking a step away from the Skywalker saga at last; it’s set at the end of the High Republic Era, the golden age of both the Jedi and the Republic, and it doesn’t seem to feature established characters at all.
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What is becoming clear, though, is that Lucasfilm is betting everything on The Acolyte‘s success – even commissioning tie-ins that have usually accompanied the movies themselves. DK Publishing will publish an official Star Wars: The Acolyte Visual Guide on January 7, 2025 (via Star Wars Timeline), while solicitations for an upcoming Marvel Comics collected edition have referenced a one-shot tie-in comic.
This kind of collaboration has been unusual since The Mandalorian launched Star Wars‘ range of Disney+ TV shows, with tie-ins for The Mandalorian even canceled at short notice.
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Is The Acolyte A Safe Bet For Lucasfilm?
It’s currently unclear whether this particular gamble will pay off. The first trailer for The Acolyte broke Star Wars viewing records, but it did so in the face of what seemed to be a massive campaign against it – one that may well have driven negative engagement. There’s been a backlash against showrunner and creator Leslye Headland on social media, and some of the worst sides of the Star Wars fandom have been on display, with many attacks clearly driftin into racism and misogyny. The Acolyte is sailing against very powerful headwinds.
Looking beyond the trolls, Google Trends data suggests most viewers are waiting to see more of The Acolyte before they make up their minds. There was a spike in interest when Lucasfilm released the first Acolyte trailer, but engagement then dropped to a baseline only a little higher than before. That isn’t the reaction Lucasfilm will have hoped for, and it indicates future trailers will need stronger hooks.
All in all, then, it’s too soon to say whether Star Wars: The Acolyte will be the hit Lucasfilm clearly hope for. If this gamble pays off, it will finally allow Star Wars to move beyond the Skywalker saga, and that’s great news for the entire franchise. Lucasfilm is betting on a success, but the fandom is yet to be won over.
The Acolyte
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
-
Dafne Keen
, Lee Jung-jae
, Amandla Stenberg
, Jodie Turner-Smith
, Joonas Suotamo
, Carrie-Anne Moss
, Margarita Levieva
, Charlie Barnett
, Dean-Charles Chapman - Writers
-
Leslye Headland
, Charmaine De Grate
, Kor Adana - Directors
-
Leslye Headland
, Alex Garcia Lopez - Showrunner
-
Leslye Headland
The Acolyte releases on Disney+ on June 4.
