Amandla Stenberg, who played the dual lead roles of Force-sensitive "twins" Osha and Mae in The Acolyte, has broken her silence on Disney+'s latest Star Wars series being cancelled, and it sounds like she feels the negative backlash did contribute to Lucasfilm's decision to some extent.
Reports have indicated that the studio decided not to renew the show for a second season because of declining viewership, but Stenberg believes that a "rampage of hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred, and hateful language" contributed to the overall negative perception of the project.
“It’s not a huge shock for me [that it was canceled]. Of course, I live in the bubble of my own reality but for those who aren’t aware there has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced ... when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it.
Reports have indicated that the studio decided not to renew the show for a second season because of declining viewership, but Stenberg believes that a "rampage of hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred, and hateful language" contributed to the overall negative perception of the project.
“It’s not a huge shock for me [that it was canceled]. Of course, I live in the bubble of my own reality but for those who aren’t aware there has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced ... when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it.
- 8/29/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Earlier this week, we got word that Lucasfilm/Disney will not be moving forward with a second season of The Acolyte despite several major storylines and character arcs being left unresolved by the end of the season 1 finale.
The decision was met with a mixture of indifference and disappointment, but it's very clear that a lot of Star Wars fans - and some of the actors involved with the show - were surprised by this development.
Showrunner Leslye Headland was hoping to be able to continue her High Republic era-set tale, and rumor has it that the studio was planning a second season up until fairly recently.
So, what happened?
Despite speculation that the negative backlash from many Star Wars fans contributed to the decision, Jeff Sneider (via SFFGazette.com) is reporting that The Acolyte was cancelled because it didn't get enough viewers, plain and simple.
"Insiders explain that The Acolyte...
The decision was met with a mixture of indifference and disappointment, but it's very clear that a lot of Star Wars fans - and some of the actors involved with the show - were surprised by this development.
Showrunner Leslye Headland was hoping to be able to continue her High Republic era-set tale, and rumor has it that the studio was planning a second season up until fairly recently.
So, what happened?
Despite speculation that the negative backlash from many Star Wars fans contributed to the decision, Jeff Sneider (via SFFGazette.com) is reporting that The Acolyte was cancelled because it didn't get enough viewers, plain and simple.
"Insiders explain that The Acolyte...
- 8/24/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The news that Lucasfilm will not be renewing The Acolyte for a second season broke earlier this week, and while some weren't overly surprised (or bothered), others were very disappointed that this High Republic era-story will not continue.
The series, which was created by Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), received mostly positive reviews from critics, but was not as warmly embraced by the fandom, earning just an 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. A certain amount of the negative feedback can be attributed to review-bombing, but even so, it's clear that The Acolyte was not one of the more popular Disney+ Star Wars shows.
The enigmatic Sith warrior known as The Stranger, aka Qimir, and the flawed Jedi Master Sol were two of the show's most popular characters, and actors Manny Jacinto and Lee Jung-jae have now shared their responses to the cancellation.
Lee admits that he was "personally, quite surprised" by the news.
The series, which was created by Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), received mostly positive reviews from critics, but was not as warmly embraced by the fandom, earning just an 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. A certain amount of the negative feedback can be attributed to review-bombing, but even so, it's clear that The Acolyte was not one of the more popular Disney+ Star Wars shows.
The enigmatic Sith warrior known as The Stranger, aka Qimir, and the flawed Jedi Master Sol were two of the show's most popular characters, and actors Manny Jacinto and Lee Jung-jae have now shared their responses to the cancellation.
Lee admits that he was "personally, quite surprised" by the news.
- 8/23/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
We found out late last night that The Acolyte will not return, with Lucasfilm making the decision to cancel the latest live-action Disney+ Star Wars series after just a single season.
The news was met with indifference by those who were never particularly invested in the story, but a lot of fans were disappointed, due in no small part to the fact that the finale left so many major plot points unresolved.
The narrative seems to be that Lucasfilm/Disney never intended to renew the show for more episodes due to low viewership numbers (the verbiage doesn't really matter - the show is not returning), but this may not be the case after all.
According to The Hot Mic co-host John Rocha, tentative plans were in place to develop a second season.
Rocha's sources told him that The Acolyte actually had a "soft green light" to continue, and Lucasfilm...
The news was met with indifference by those who were never particularly invested in the story, but a lot of fans were disappointed, due in no small part to the fact that the finale left so many major plot points unresolved.
The narrative seems to be that Lucasfilm/Disney never intended to renew the show for more episodes due to low viewership numbers (the verbiage doesn't really matter - the show is not returning), but this may not be the case after all.
According to The Hot Mic co-host John Rocha, tentative plans were in place to develop a second season.
Rocha's sources told him that The Acolyte actually had a "soft green light" to continue, and Lucasfilm...
- 8/20/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Exclusive: Beverly Hills-based management and production company, Underground, has bolstered its team with the addition of Aaron Folbe as Manager, Deadline has learned.
Folbe joins after a little over two years at Industry Entertainment, where he served as Lit Coordinator. In his new role, he will continue to focus on supporting and developing the careers of writers, directors, and performers.
Folbe’s new role comes shortly following a major win for his clients Adam and Daniel Cooper, who in June sold their short story “I Used To Eat Brains, Now I Eat Kale” to Amazon MGM Studios for feature development, with Ryan Gosling and his production company General Admission attached to produce. Folbe took on the Cooper twins as clients before his time at Industry Entertainment — while serving as an assistant at Artists First — and closed the deal in between his exit from that company and his Underground hire. The...
Folbe joins after a little over two years at Industry Entertainment, where he served as Lit Coordinator. In his new role, he will continue to focus on supporting and developing the careers of writers, directors, and performers.
Folbe’s new role comes shortly following a major win for his clients Adam and Daniel Cooper, who in June sold their short story “I Used To Eat Brains, Now I Eat Kale” to Amazon MGM Studios for feature development, with Ryan Gosling and his production company General Admission attached to produce. Folbe took on the Cooper twins as clients before his time at Industry Entertainment — while serving as an assistant at Artists First — and closed the deal in between his exit from that company and his Underground hire. The...
- 8/20/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Lucasfilm has decided not to move forward with a second season of Disney+'s latest live-action Star Wars series. The news has now been confirmed by both Deadline and THR: The Acolyte has officially been cancelled.
The series, which was created by Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), received mostly positive reviews from critics, but was not as warmly embraced by the fandom, earning just an 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
A certain amount of the negative feedback can be attributed to review-bombing, but even so, it's clear that The Acolyte was not one of the more popular Disney+ Star Wars shows.
“It was an easy target,” said one source. “And it hurt the public perception of the show.”
The Acolyte got off to a strong start after its two-episode premiere, generating 4.8M views in its first day on Disney+ to rank as the biggest series premiere on the streamer this year.
The series, which was created by Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), received mostly positive reviews from critics, but was not as warmly embraced by the fandom, earning just an 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
A certain amount of the negative feedback can be attributed to review-bombing, but even so, it's clear that The Acolyte was not one of the more popular Disney+ Star Wars shows.
“It was an easy target,” said one source. “And it hurt the public perception of the show.”
The Acolyte got off to a strong start after its two-episode premiere, generating 4.8M views in its first day on Disney+ to rank as the biggest series premiere on the streamer this year.
- 8/20/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
This week's season finale of The Acolyte left us with quite a bit to mull over while we await a season 2 announcement, and while several plotlines and character arcs were left open to continue, "shippers" now seem satisfied that there is a romantic connection between Qimir, aka The Stranger, and Osha after that final shot.
After the Stranger witnesses Osha kill Master Sol using a Force-choke, the pair return to the island (which will likely be revealed as Bal'demnic) where he brought her after the Jedi massacre in episode 5.
Osha looks out over the ocean, and Qimir approaches his new apprentice, resting his hand on her's as she grips her (formerly Sol's) lightsaber.
This definitely seems to be hinting at more than just a teacher/pupil dynamic, and showrunner Leslye Headland has previously revealed that a kiss between the two was considered. Now, actor Manny Jacinto gives his take during an interview with EW,...
After the Stranger witnesses Osha kill Master Sol using a Force-choke, the pair return to the island (which will likely be revealed as Bal'demnic) where he brought her after the Jedi massacre in episode 5.
Osha looks out over the ocean, and Qimir approaches his new apprentice, resting his hand on her's as she grips her (formerly Sol's) lightsaber.
This definitely seems to be hinting at more than just a teacher/pupil dynamic, and showrunner Leslye Headland has previously revealed that a kiss between the two was considered. Now, actor Manny Jacinto gives his take during an interview with EW,...
- 7/20/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The first season (assuming there will be a second) of The Acolyte concluded earlier this week with an exciting finale which featured the long-awaited debut of a character first mentioned in the Star Wars prequels, and a cameo from a certain fan-favorite Jedi Master.
Spoilers follow.
There's been speculation that Qimir's master might turn out to be Darth Plagueis - the powerful Sith Senator Palpatine told Anakin Skywalker about in Revenge of the Sith - and the brief glimpse of a hooded alien with glowing eyes as "The Stranger" departed with Osha would appear to confirm as much.
Though we weren't certain that this was definitely Plagueis at the time, the sinister figure did appear to be part of the Muun species, and showrunner Leslye Headland has since confirmed that this was no misdirect: Darth Plagueis is now officially part of the new Star Wars canon.
This wasn't the only big reveal,...
Spoilers follow.
There's been speculation that Qimir's master might turn out to be Darth Plagueis - the powerful Sith Senator Palpatine told Anakin Skywalker about in Revenge of the Sith - and the brief glimpse of a hooded alien with glowing eyes as "The Stranger" departed with Osha would appear to confirm as much.
Though we weren't certain that this was definitely Plagueis at the time, the sinister figure did appear to be part of the Muun species, and showrunner Leslye Headland has since confirmed that this was no misdirect: Darth Plagueis is now officially part of the new Star Wars canon.
This wasn't the only big reveal,...
- 7/19/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
In what will almost certainly go down as the best episode of The Acolyte (depending on how tonight's season finale goes), two popular supporting characters were killed off in shocking fashion - but that doesn't mean we won't see them again at some point.
If you're not up-to-date with the show yet, major spoilers follow.
Despite Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett) meeting an untimely end at the hands of The Stranger (Manny Jacinto) in "Night," showrunner Leslye Headland believes there's a good chance both Jedi could return to the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
"Yeah, definitely," Headland told Jedi News at a roundtable (via Total Film) when asked if Jecki and Yord's stories could be revisited down the line. "Pablo Hidalgo and I have talked about that, and since wrapping up the season, there's definitely some stuff that I would love to see come to fruition."
"Obviously,...
If you're not up-to-date with the show yet, major spoilers follow.
Despite Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett) meeting an untimely end at the hands of The Stranger (Manny Jacinto) in "Night," showrunner Leslye Headland believes there's a good chance both Jedi could return to the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
"Yeah, definitely," Headland told Jedi News at a roundtable (via Total Film) when asked if Jecki and Yord's stories could be revisited down the line. "Pablo Hidalgo and I have talked about that, and since wrapping up the season, there's definitely some stuff that I would love to see come to fruition."
"Obviously,...
- 7/16/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
In an era where audiences are peddled an onslaught of remakes, sequels, and requels, few attempts at adapting existing works really manage to stand out. That one of these precious few was immediately trashed by critics who didn’t understand it and mismanaged by a company that was too scared to court controversy, is a shame. That show, though you may not expect it, was none other than Paramount’s own “Heathers”, which aired in 2018.
The series, created by Jason Micallef, had the same basics as Daniel Waters and Michael Lehmann’s film of the same name, fixating on a group of students at Westerberg High School in Sherwood, Ohio, and the deeply messy politics and behavior that comes with that. It retained the main crew of three “mean-girls” Heathers, along with the blasé “good person” Veronica and her faux-tortured murderer love interest Jd.
Though similar to its source, it...
The series, created by Jason Micallef, had the same basics as Daniel Waters and Michael Lehmann’s film of the same name, fixating on a group of students at Westerberg High School in Sherwood, Ohio, and the deeply messy politics and behavior that comes with that. It retained the main crew of three “mean-girls” Heathers, along with the blasé “good person” Veronica and her faux-tortured murderer love interest Jd.
Though similar to its source, it...
- 7/15/2024
- by Juan Barquin
- Indiewire
This week's penultimate episode of The Acolyte, "Choice," brought us back to the tragic events of Mae and Osha's past to reveal what really happened on Brendock all those years ago.
As we all suspected, the Jedi - Sol, in particular - played a much bigger role in the destruction of the coven and the death of Mother Aniseya than either of the twins realizes. We also learned some interesting new details about Mae and Osha, and how they came into existence.
It's suggested that the sisters aren't actually twins at all, and were "created" by the coven via a Force vergence on the planet and are essentially two halves of the same being. Details were left intentionally vague, but showrunner Leslye Headland has now confirmed that we will find out more in next week's season finale.
"Tune in next week. Tune in next week," she tells Nerdist. "We...
As we all suspected, the Jedi - Sol, in particular - played a much bigger role in the destruction of the coven and the death of Mother Aniseya than either of the twins realizes. We also learned some interesting new details about Mae and Osha, and how they came into existence.
It's suggested that the sisters aren't actually twins at all, and were "created" by the coven via a Force vergence on the planet and are essentially two halves of the same being. Details were left intentionally vague, but showrunner Leslye Headland has now confirmed that we will find out more in next week's season finale.
"Tune in next week. Tune in next week," she tells Nerdist. "We...
- 7/12/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
This article was originally published on SFFGazette.com. Head there now for more on Star Wars and The Acolyte.
In the fifth episode of The Acolyte, The Stranger approached a downed Osha as Kylo Ren's familiar theme could be heard playing subtly in the background. Then, if you waited through the credits last week, the familiar musical cue was impossible to miss.
It's back in "Choice" (you can read our recap of the episode here), this time when the mind-controlled Kelnacca attacks Padawan Torbin. It's an odd place to include it, albeit one which makes us wonder whether the coven has ties to the Dark Side group - the Knights of Ren - that Ben Solo joins and takes charge of upon becoming Kylo Ren.
If The Acolyte is an origin story for the Knights of Ren rather than the story of how the Sith returned - leading to...
In the fifth episode of The Acolyte, The Stranger approached a downed Osha as Kylo Ren's familiar theme could be heard playing subtly in the background. Then, if you waited through the credits last week, the familiar musical cue was impossible to miss.
It's back in "Choice" (you can read our recap of the episode here), this time when the mind-controlled Kelnacca attacks Padawan Torbin. It's an odd place to include it, albeit one which makes us wonder whether the coven has ties to the Dark Side group - the Knights of Ren - that Ben Solo joins and takes charge of upon becoming Kylo Ren.
If The Acolyte is an origin story for the Knights of Ren rather than the story of how the Sith returned - leading to...
- 7/11/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Over the past few years, the practice of "review-bombing" has increased among certain fanbases, with review aggregators such as Rotten Tomatoes inundated with negative reactions in at attempt to lower the movie or show's displayed public score.
The Merriam-Webster definition reads: "The flooding of a website with usually negative reviews (as of product or business) While not always the case, review bombing often seems targeted at projects that champion minorities, be it women, people of colour or the Lgbtqia community."
Now, while it's obviously true that not everyone is going to like the project in question and some will simply be registering their disapproval, you can usually tell when something has been review-bombed if a significant amount of verdicts are added before it's even been released, or if it's been generally well-received by critics and/or the average viewer.
Star Wars has been hit particularly hard of late, but The...
The Merriam-Webster definition reads: "The flooding of a website with usually negative reviews (as of product or business) While not always the case, review bombing often seems targeted at projects that champion minorities, be it women, people of colour or the Lgbtqia community."
Now, while it's obviously true that not everyone is going to like the project in question and some will simply be registering their disapproval, you can usually tell when something has been review-bombed if a significant amount of verdicts are added before it's even been released, or if it's been generally well-received by critics and/or the average viewer.
Star Wars has been hit particularly hard of late, but The...
- 7/5/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
This week's sixth episode of The Acolyte was a little more subdued than last Tuesday's action-packed bloodbath, but it did reveal some new details about the mysterious Sith(?) villain known only as The Stranger.
Major spoilers follow.
In addition to confirming that he used to be a Jedi, the Dark-side warrior shows a much calmer, almost vulnerable side in "Teach/Corrupt," and while he does seem to be manipulating Osha in an attempt to make her his new pupil, there might also be a genuine connection between them.
A romantic connection?
Some fans have already "shipped" the characters, and during an interview with Collider, showrunner Leslye Headland did suggest that their dynamic could head in that direction - but that may not necessarily be a good thing for Osha.
"It's so clear what's going on. So anybody that's picking up on it, congrats, awesome. But again, the dynamics had to...
Major spoilers follow.
In addition to confirming that he used to be a Jedi, the Dark-side warrior shows a much calmer, almost vulnerable side in "Teach/Corrupt," and while he does seem to be manipulating Osha in an attempt to make her his new pupil, there might also be a genuine connection between them.
A romantic connection?
Some fans have already "shipped" the characters, and during an interview with Collider, showrunner Leslye Headland did suggest that their dynamic could head in that direction - but that may not necessarily be a good thing for Osha.
"It's so clear what's going on. So anybody that's picking up on it, congrats, awesome. But again, the dynamics had to...
- 7/4/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
This article was originally published on SFFGazette.com. Head there now for more on Star Wars and The Acolyte.
In the closing moments of last week's episode of The Acolyte, The Stranger approached a downed Osha as Kylo Ren's familiar theme could be heard playing subtly in the background.
That's led to speculation about the Sith villain possibly being the founder of the Knights of Ren, and if you stick around through the credits of today's "Teach/Corrupt," Ben Solo's theme is hard to miss around the 35:40 mark. It's an obvious nod to the future Supreme Leader of the First Order and there must be a reason for its inclusion.
If The Stranger isn't the founder of the Knights of Ren, then perhaps the "Power of Two" he's searching for has something to do with a Force Dyad? (which Rey and Ben are in the future).
Whatever the case may be,...
In the closing moments of last week's episode of The Acolyte, The Stranger approached a downed Osha as Kylo Ren's familiar theme could be heard playing subtly in the background.
That's led to speculation about the Sith villain possibly being the founder of the Knights of Ren, and if you stick around through the credits of today's "Teach/Corrupt," Ben Solo's theme is hard to miss around the 35:40 mark. It's an obvious nod to the future Supreme Leader of the First Order and there must be a reason for its inclusion.
If The Stranger isn't the founder of the Knights of Ren, then perhaps the "Power of Two" he's searching for has something to do with a Force Dyad? (which Rey and Ben are in the future).
Whatever the case may be,...
- 7/3/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
This week's fifth episode of The Acolyte, "Night," proved to be a major shocker - and not for the reason we expected.
Although the mysterious "Master" was unmasked, the reveal that it was Qimir (Manny Jacinto) pulling Mae's (Amanlda Stenberg) strings all along didn't really come as much of a surprise for anyone that has been paying attention. However, the fact that he proceeded to murder both Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Yord Fandor (Charlie Barnett) in quick succession was a development nobody saw coming.
"Night" also saw estranged sisters Mae and Osha (Stenberg) face-off for the first time since they were kids, and despite the former attempting to make things right and reunite with her twin, Osha wanted no part of it. After being rejected, Mae knocked Osha out with a Force-blast before cutting her hair and switching places with her sister.
Then, we see the Master return...
Although the mysterious "Master" was unmasked, the reveal that it was Qimir (Manny Jacinto) pulling Mae's (Amanlda Stenberg) strings all along didn't really come as much of a surprise for anyone that has been paying attention. However, the fact that he proceeded to murder both Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Yord Fandor (Charlie Barnett) in quick succession was a development nobody saw coming.
"Night" also saw estranged sisters Mae and Osha (Stenberg) face-off for the first time since they were kids, and despite the former attempting to make things right and reunite with her twin, Osha wanted no part of it. After being rejected, Mae knocked Osha out with a Force-blast before cutting her hair and switching places with her sister.
Then, we see the Master return...
- 6/29/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
This article was originally published on SFFGazette.com. Head there now for more on Star Wars and The Acolyte.
In yesterday's episode of The Acolyte, The Master was unmasked and revealed to be the mild-mannered Qimir. That was all just an act, of course, and it quickly became apparent the Jedi assembled on Khofar were no match for him.
Claiming to have no name, the villain told Master Sol he's what the Jedi "might" call a Sith. The fact he's searching for an Acolyte rather than an apprentice could be telling and it's entirely possible Qimir has no ties to the Sith lineage that eventually leads to Emperor Palpatine.
After all, The Acolyte has already made it clear more than just the Jedi use the Force, so he may be just a powerful Dark Side Force user.
Today, we have a theory which could tie The Master to the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
In yesterday's episode of The Acolyte, The Master was unmasked and revealed to be the mild-mannered Qimir. That was all just an act, of course, and it quickly became apparent the Jedi assembled on Khofar were no match for him.
Claiming to have no name, the villain told Master Sol he's what the Jedi "might" call a Sith. The fact he's searching for an Acolyte rather than an apprentice could be telling and it's entirely possible Qimir has no ties to the Sith lineage that eventually leads to Emperor Palpatine.
After all, The Acolyte has already made it clear more than just the Jedi use the Force, so he may be just a powerful Dark Side Force user.
Today, we have a theory which could tie The Master to the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
- 6/27/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Yesterday's episode of The Acolyte finally pulled the curtain back on The Master, confirming the enigmatic Qimir is the Sith villain who instructed Mae to murder the Jedi Masters who confronted her mother's coven years earlier.
While "Qimir" claimed to have no name, the villain has just been given an official moniker by Lucasfilm. Despite being dubbed "The Master" since his first appearance, StarWars.com - and some upcoming merchandise - labels him "The Stranger."
"With a specialized cortosis gauntlet and a mask permanently twisted into a frightful grin, the Stranger with a red-bladed lightsaber appears as if out of thin air," reads an official character description first shared on SFFGazette.com. "While some may call him a Sith, little is known of this dark sider who has been training Mae Aniseya in secret, hiding his face from his pupil."
"When needed, he has adopted the alias Qimir, acting as...
While "Qimir" claimed to have no name, the villain has just been given an official moniker by Lucasfilm. Despite being dubbed "The Master" since his first appearance, StarWars.com - and some upcoming merchandise - labels him "The Stranger."
"With a specialized cortosis gauntlet and a mask permanently twisted into a frightful grin, the Stranger with a red-bladed lightsaber appears as if out of thin air," reads an official character description first shared on SFFGazette.com. "While some may call him a Sith, little is known of this dark sider who has been training Mae Aniseya in secret, hiding his face from his pupil."
"When needed, he has adopted the alias Qimir, acting as...
- 6/27/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Yesterday's episode of The Acolyte finally pulled the curtain back on The Master, confirming the enigmatic Qimir is the Sith villain who instructed Mae to murder the Jedi Masters who confronted her mother's coven years earlier.
While "Qimir" claimed to have no name, the villain has just been given an official moniker by Lucasfilm. Despite being dubbed "The Master" since his first appearance, StarWars.com - and some upcoming merchandise - labels him "The Stranger."
"With a specialized cortosis gauntlet and a mask permanently twisted into a frightful grin, the Stranger with a red-bladed lightsaber appears as if out of thin air," reads an official character description first shared on SFFGazette.com. "While some may call him a Sith, little is known of this dark sider who has been training Mae Aniseya in secret, hiding his face from his pupil."
"When needed, he has adopted the alias Qimir, acting as...
While "Qimir" claimed to have no name, the villain has just been given an official moniker by Lucasfilm. Despite being dubbed "The Master" since his first appearance, StarWars.com - and some upcoming merchandise - labels him "The Stranger."
"With a specialized cortosis gauntlet and a mask permanently twisted into a frightful grin, the Stranger with a red-bladed lightsaber appears as if out of thin air," reads an official character description first shared on SFFGazette.com. "While some may call him a Sith, little is known of this dark sider who has been training Mae Aniseya in secret, hiding his face from his pupil."
"When needed, he has adopted the alias Qimir, acting as...
- 6/27/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Episode 5 of The Acolyte is now streaming on Disney+, and even if you saw the Master twist coming, "Night" still featured its share of shocking moments.
We had a pretty good idea that the mysterious "Master" would be unveiled during this week's episode and who would be under the mask, but we didn't expect him to deal out quite so much death and destruction.
After taking out a couple of red shirts, the powerful Dark-side warrior - now revealed to be the man who went by the name Qimir (Manny Jacinto) - murders both Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Yord Fandor (Charlie Barnett) in quick succession.
During an interview with EW, Barnett was asked how he felt about his character's shocking demise and what it was like filming his death scene.
"Let’s just put it out there: Manny, beyond being an extremely handsome gentleman, is one of the kindest people ever.
We had a pretty good idea that the mysterious "Master" would be unveiled during this week's episode and who would be under the mask, but we didn't expect him to deal out quite so much death and destruction.
After taking out a couple of red shirts, the powerful Dark-side warrior - now revealed to be the man who went by the name Qimir (Manny Jacinto) - murders both Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Yord Fandor (Charlie Barnett) in quick succession.
During an interview with EW, Barnett was asked how he felt about his character's shocking demise and what it was like filming his death scene.
"Let’s just put it out there: Manny, beyond being an extremely handsome gentleman, is one of the kindest people ever.
- 6/27/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Disney+ has released a teaser for tonight's fifth episode of The Acolyte, and it looks like we might be in for more flashbacks.
Last week's episode concluded with the mysterious "Master" making his (or her?) presence felt by attacking the group of Jedi who had come to Khofar in an attempt to stop Mae from carrying out her assassination of Kelnacca.
Unbeknownst to our heroes, Mae had already decided to surrender to the Wookiee Jedi once she found out her twin sister, Osha, was still alive, but arrived to find that her Dark-side boss had already done the deed. The Master then floated into view behind Osha and the others, before unleashing a powerful Force-blast.
It looks like this episode will pick up immediately after that cliffhanger, but it seems we are also going to get more flashbacks, as we see Kelnacca attack what appears to be another Jedi with his lightsaber.
Last week's episode concluded with the mysterious "Master" making his (or her?) presence felt by attacking the group of Jedi who had come to Khofar in an attempt to stop Mae from carrying out her assassination of Kelnacca.
Unbeknownst to our heroes, Mae had already decided to surrender to the Wookiee Jedi once she found out her twin sister, Osha, was still alive, but arrived to find that her Dark-side boss had already done the deed. The Master then floated into view behind Osha and the others, before unleashing a powerful Force-blast.
It looks like this episode will pick up immediately after that cliffhanger, but it seems we are also going to get more flashbacks, as we see Kelnacca attack what appears to be another Jedi with his lightsaber.
- 6/25/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Now that the fourth episode of The Acolyte is streaming on Disney+, Lucasfilm has released a second batch of character posters, this time spotlighting Mae's twin Osha (Amandla Stenberg) and a group of highly enigmatic supporting players.
Each banner is accompanied by a profile of each character, and while they make for interesting reading, you won't find any hints about the true identity of the mysterious "Master." Even so, there's a very good chance one of these individuals will ultimately be unmasked as the Dark-side warrior who made his presence felt in the closing moment of this week's episode.
Right now, the most popular theory points to Manny Jacinto's former smuggler Qimir, who appears to know a bit too much about Mae's mission and the Master's orders. This would seem a little too obvious, however, and could turn out to be a red herring.
Check out the new posters at the links below,...
Each banner is accompanied by a profile of each character, and while they make for interesting reading, you won't find any hints about the true identity of the mysterious "Master." Even so, there's a very good chance one of these individuals will ultimately be unmasked as the Dark-side warrior who made his presence felt in the closing moment of this week's episode.
Right now, the most popular theory points to Manny Jacinto's former smuggler Qimir, who appears to know a bit too much about Mae's mission and the Master's orders. This would seem a little too obvious, however, and could turn out to be a red herring.
Check out the new posters at the links below,...
- 6/21/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
While there are those who believe The Acolyte is being "review-bombed," the huge surge of negative verdicts means it now has an Audience Score (14%) on Rotten Tomatoes which is worse than even the hilariously bad Star Wars Holiday Special.
Seeing as the show has an 84% score from critics, there's clearly a stark contrast between how critics and fans have responded to the series. However, newly revealed viewership data from Variety (via SFFGazette.com) may paint a very different picture when it comes to whether The Acolyte can be considered a success.
In a Top 10 list which measures the minutes watched by every streaming original TV show between June 7 - June 13, Netflix dominates with 9 titles.
The likely reason for that is the streamer's tendency to release entire seasons at a time; however, even with only two episodes of The Acolyte available on Disney+, it still managed to reach the #6 spot.
It...
Seeing as the show has an 84% score from critics, there's clearly a stark contrast between how critics and fans have responded to the series. However, newly revealed viewership data from Variety (via SFFGazette.com) may paint a very different picture when it comes to whether The Acolyte can be considered a success.
In a Top 10 list which measures the minutes watched by every streaming original TV show between June 7 - June 13, Netflix dominates with 9 titles.
The likely reason for that is the streamer's tendency to release entire seasons at a time; however, even with only two episodes of The Acolyte available on Disney+, it still managed to reach the #6 spot.
It...
- 6/20/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
There have always been toxic elements to every fandom, but over the past few years, we have seen an increase in targetted online abuse, with many "fans" taking their criticism way too far by spewing bile at the people involved with the movies and TV shows they claim to love.
Star Wars has been hit particularly hard, with the perception that Disney is pushing a "woke agenda" by shifting focus to Black, female, and LGBTQ+ characters in their projects leading to some shockingly hateful backlash.
As a gay Black woman, The Acolyte star Amandla Stenberg has found herself in the firing line since before the show even aired, but the harassment escalated when an out-of-context clip of the actress saying "white people crying was the goal" on a 2018 talk show did the rounds last week.
Now, Stenberg has released a new music video in response.
"Happy Juneteenth...
Star Wars has been hit particularly hard, with the perception that Disney is pushing a "woke agenda" by shifting focus to Black, female, and LGBTQ+ characters in their projects leading to some shockingly hateful backlash.
As a gay Black woman, The Acolyte star Amandla Stenberg has found herself in the firing line since before the show even aired, but the harassment escalated when an out-of-context clip of the actress saying "white people crying was the goal" on a 2018 talk show did the rounds last week.
Now, Stenberg has released a new music video in response.
"Happy Juneteenth...
- 6/20/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
In this week's fourth episode of The Acolyte, titled "Day," Mae has a change of heart after learning her twin sister is alive and decides to abandon her mission and tell the Jedi what she knows about The Master.
However, upon arriving in Kelnacca's hut, she discovers that the Wookie Jedi is already dead, somehow murdered by the mysterious Sith villain mere moments before she got there. As Mae and the Jedi approach, The Master floats down from above - Count Dooku-style - and tosses Mae aside before flinging the heroes into the distance.
It's a massive cliffhanger and all signs point to the fifth episode pitting the downed Jedi against the red lightsaber-wielding baddie.
Talking to Entertainment Weekly (via SFFGazette.com), The Acolyte's showrunner, Leslye Headland, said, "I find him to be very scary. I think that because this is a show about the bad guys, he is incredibly powerful,...
However, upon arriving in Kelnacca's hut, she discovers that the Wookie Jedi is already dead, somehow murdered by the mysterious Sith villain mere moments before she got there. As Mae and the Jedi approach, The Master floats down from above - Count Dooku-style - and tosses Mae aside before flinging the heroes into the distance.
It's a massive cliffhanger and all signs point to the fifth episode pitting the downed Jedi against the red lightsaber-wielding baddie.
Talking to Entertainment Weekly (via SFFGazette.com), The Acolyte's showrunner, Leslye Headland, said, "I find him to be very scary. I think that because this is a show about the bad guys, he is incredibly powerful,...
- 6/19/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
This article was originally published on SFFGazette.com. Head there now for more on Star Wars and The Acolyte.
While it's been confirmed that Plo Koon isn't in The Acolyte, yesterday evening's episode did feature the surprise return of Ki-Adi-Mundi.
Silas Carson portrayed the Jedi Master in George Lucas' prequels, but Derek Arnold - an English puppeteer and actor who worked as a creature and droid performer on several recent Star Wars projects - takes over the role in this series.
It's a fun cameo for longtime Star Wars fans, but also one which has also upset a lot of people. The main argument is that The Acolyte is playing fast and loose with both the hero's lifespan and history.
The only problem with that argument is, the second Disney acquired Lucasfilm, all that Expanded Universe/Legends material was rendered non-canon. As a result, The Acolyte marks Ki-Adi-Mundi's "first" official...
While it's been confirmed that Plo Koon isn't in The Acolyte, yesterday evening's episode did feature the surprise return of Ki-Adi-Mundi.
Silas Carson portrayed the Jedi Master in George Lucas' prequels, but Derek Arnold - an English puppeteer and actor who worked as a creature and droid performer on several recent Star Wars projects - takes over the role in this series.
It's a fun cameo for longtime Star Wars fans, but also one which has also upset a lot of people. The main argument is that The Acolyte is playing fast and loose with both the hero's lifespan and history.
The only problem with that argument is, the second Disney acquired Lucasfilm, all that Expanded Universe/Legends material was rendered non-canon. As a result, The Acolyte marks Ki-Adi-Mundi's "first" official...
- 6/19/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
One of the more exciting aspects of The Acolyte for many Star Wars fans was the news that the Disney+ series would introduce a Wookiee Jedi in the form of Master Kelnacca, played by Chewbacca actor Joonas Suotamo (who stepped in to replace Peter Mayhew for the sequel trilogy).
Though the character only made a couple of brief appearances in the first three episodes, the closing moments of last week's instalment indicated that we'd be spending a little more time with the solitary Jedi in self-imposed exile on the jungle planet of Khofar.
As it turns out, Kelnacca's only real function in episode 4 was to die... off-screen!
Though he may still feature in flashbacks, a lot of fans viewed this as a disappointing exit for the character, and it sounds like Suotamo may feel the same.
The actor was asked if showrunner Leslye Headland told him his character would be...
Though the character only made a couple of brief appearances in the first three episodes, the closing moments of last week's instalment indicated that we'd be spending a little more time with the solitary Jedi in self-imposed exile on the jungle planet of Khofar.
As it turns out, Kelnacca's only real function in episode 4 was to die... off-screen!
Though he may still feature in flashbacks, a lot of fans viewed this as a disappointing exit for the character, and it sounds like Suotamo may feel the same.
The actor was asked if showrunner Leslye Headland told him his character would be...
- 6/19/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
You may have seen this little fella in Funko Pop form already, but thanks to some new promo stills for tonight's fourth episode of The Acolyte, we have a first official look at Bazil, the Tynnan tracker who will help our heroes on a very important mission.
We're not going to go into too much detail about the episode, but if you'd rather know as little as possible before watching, here's your spoiler warning.
In an attempt to reach Mae's next target before she does, Master Sol, Osha and the others travel to the planet of Khofar, where they enlist Bazil to find Wookiee Jedi Master Kelnacca's home deep in the jungle. Unfortunately, Mae has already arrived, and she's not alone.
Tynnans were actually introduced in the 1979 novel Han Solo’s Revenge by Brian Daley, but creature & droid FX creative supervisor Neal Scanlan and his team incorporated elements of...
We're not going to go into too much detail about the episode, but if you'd rather know as little as possible before watching, here's your spoiler warning.
In an attempt to reach Mae's next target before she does, Master Sol, Osha and the others travel to the planet of Khofar, where they enlist Bazil to find Wookiee Jedi Master Kelnacca's home deep in the jungle. Unfortunately, Mae has already arrived, and she's not alone.
Tynnans were actually introduced in the 1979 novel Han Solo’s Revenge by Brian Daley, but creature & droid FX creative supervisor Neal Scanlan and his team incorporated elements of...
- 6/18/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
In the divisive third episode of The Acolyte, we learned more about the childhoods of Force-sensitive twin girls Mae and Osha. The former has since fallen to the Dark Side and serves "The Master," while the latter trained as a Jedi before leaving the Order.
While "Destiny" filled in a lot of gaps (and raised some intriguing questions), the biggest talking point was the introduction of a coven of witches on Brendok. Gifted with the ability to use the Force, we learned that Mother Aniseya had given birth to Mae and Osha after her partner, Mother Koril, created the girls...likely in the same way Anakin Skywalker was conceived without a father.
Much was said about the "Power of Two" in The Acolyte, with the prevailing theory being that the twins are a Force Dyad similar to Rey and Kylo Ren.
Talking to StarWars.com (via SFFGazette.com), Jodie Turner-Smith...
While "Destiny" filled in a lot of gaps (and raised some intriguing questions), the biggest talking point was the introduction of a coven of witches on Brendok. Gifted with the ability to use the Force, we learned that Mother Aniseya had given birth to Mae and Osha after her partner, Mother Koril, created the girls...likely in the same way Anakin Skywalker was conceived without a father.
Much was said about the "Power of Two" in The Acolyte, with the prevailing theory being that the twins are a Force Dyad similar to Rey and Kylo Ren.
Talking to StarWars.com (via SFFGazette.com), Jodie Turner-Smith...
- 6/17/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The Walt Disney Company has revealed the Disney Plus July 2024 release schedule, which includes new Originals, movies, and TV series. The Disney+ streaming service features movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more, alongside exclusive Disney+ Originals.
The schedule includes Descendants: The Rise of Red, new episodes of Star Wars series The Acolyte, Bluey Minisodes, and more. You can view the Disney Plus July 2024 lineup below.
Disney Plus July 2024 Schedule
Available July 1
New Library Titles
Sharkfest
— Attack of the Red Sea Sharks
— Baby Sharks in the City
— Shark Attack 360
— Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast
— Shark vs. Ross Edgley
— Sharks Gone Viral
— Supersized Sharks
Available July 2
Disney+ Originals
The Acolyte – Episode 6 at 6 p.m. Pt
In Lucasfilm’s “The Acolyte,” an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge,...
The schedule includes Descendants: The Rise of Red, new episodes of Star Wars series The Acolyte, Bluey Minisodes, and more. You can view the Disney Plus July 2024 lineup below.
Disney Plus July 2024 Schedule
Available July 1
New Library Titles
Sharkfest
— Attack of the Red Sea Sharks
— Baby Sharks in the City
— Shark Attack 360
— Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast
— Shark vs. Ross Edgley
— Sharks Gone Viral
— Supersized Sharks
Available July 2
Disney+ Originals
The Acolyte – Episode 6 at 6 p.m. Pt
In Lucasfilm’s “The Acolyte,” an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge,...
- 6/17/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
As we write this, The Acolyte is "Certified Fresh" at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, that percentage is based on verdicts from critics, not fans. The two numbers frequently differ, but 16% is a surprisingly low score for a series which seems to have been generally well-received.
There's been a fair bit of review-bombing on the review aggregator, Google, and IMDb, and the prevailing opinion is that it's in response to The Acolyte's diverse, primarily female-led cast.
Some legitimately don't like the series, as is their right, but the most obvious sign that most of the reviews aren't the real deal has been exposed by some dim-witted Star Wars "fans."
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, many of them have been review-bombing a 2008 movie called Acolytes, seemingly because they can't tell the difference between that and The Acolyte. Unsurprisingly, the third episode has led to an increase in fake reviews because...
There's been a fair bit of review-bombing on the review aggregator, Google, and IMDb, and the prevailing opinion is that it's in response to The Acolyte's diverse, primarily female-led cast.
Some legitimately don't like the series, as is their right, but the most obvious sign that most of the reviews aren't the real deal has been exposed by some dim-witted Star Wars "fans."
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, many of them have been review-bombing a 2008 movie called Acolytes, seemingly because they can't tell the difference between that and The Acolyte. Unsurprisingly, the third episode has led to an increase in fake reviews because...
- 6/15/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
As we write this, The Acolyte is "Certified Fresh" at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, that percentage is based on verdicts from critics, not fans. The two numbers frequently differ, but 16% is a surprisingly low score for a series which seems to have been generally well-received.
There's been a fair bit of review-bombing on the review aggregator, Google, and IMDb, and the prevailing opinion is that it's in response to The Acolyte's diverse, primarily female-led cast.
Some legitimately don't like the series, as is their right, but the most obvious sign that most of the reviews aren't the real deal has been exposed by some dim-witted Star Wars "fans."
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, many of them have been review-bombing a 2008 movie called Acolytes, seemingly because they can't tell the difference between that and The Acolyte. Unsurprisingly, the third episode has led to an increase in fake reviews because...
There's been a fair bit of review-bombing on the review aggregator, Google, and IMDb, and the prevailing opinion is that it's in response to The Acolyte's diverse, primarily female-led cast.
Some legitimately don't like the series, as is their right, but the most obvious sign that most of the reviews aren't the real deal has been exposed by some dim-witted Star Wars "fans."
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, many of them have been review-bombing a 2008 movie called Acolytes, seemingly because they can't tell the difference between that and The Acolyte. Unsurprisingly, the third episode has led to an increase in fake reviews because...
- 6/15/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The third episode of The Acolyte is now streaming on Disney+, and it takes us back 16 years into the past to reveal what led to Force-sensitive sisters Osha and Mae falling out, and why the former believed the latter to be dead.
Spoilers ahead.
In "Destiny," we learn that the twins lived as part of a coven of Force-sensitive witches on the planet Brendok. A group of Jedi interrupt an ascension ceremony for the sisters being led by one of their mothers, Aniseya, in an attempt to recruit the children to the Jedi order.
Osha wants to be a Jedi, but Mae implores her sibling to stay with their coven, causing a rift that ultimately leads to the latter setting a fire which (seemingly) results in the deaths of everyone in the coven.
There's definitely more to this story (let's just say there's a reason Mae wants a certain group...
Spoilers ahead.
In "Destiny," we learn that the twins lived as part of a coven of Force-sensitive witches on the planet Brendok. A group of Jedi interrupt an ascension ceremony for the sisters being led by one of their mothers, Aniseya, in an attempt to recruit the children to the Jedi order.
Osha wants to be a Jedi, but Mae implores her sibling to stay with their coven, causing a rift that ultimately leads to the latter setting a fire which (seemingly) results in the deaths of everyone in the coven.
There's definitely more to this story (let's just say there's a reason Mae wants a certain group...
- 6/14/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Last week, we learned that The Acolyte had a bigger debut than 2023's Ahsoka with a whopping 4.8 million views on Disney+ during its first day on the streamer.
That was the official word from Disney, anyway, though no first-day viewership numbers were ever officially announced for Ahsoka. Instead, we were told that it took the Star Wars Rebels follow-up five days to reach 14 million views, giving it a per-day average of 2.8 million.
Whether or not The Acolyte really did beat Ahsoka during its first day of streaming is hard to say; either way, we've now discovered that it failed to top its fellow Star Wars series in its first five days on the platform.
According to Variety (via SFFGazette.com), the show drew an impressive 11.1 million viewers, almost 3 million less than Ahsoka during the same period.
There may be lots of reasons for this, including the fact Ahsoka featured a well-known character and setting.
That was the official word from Disney, anyway, though no first-day viewership numbers were ever officially announced for Ahsoka. Instead, we were told that it took the Star Wars Rebels follow-up five days to reach 14 million views, giving it a per-day average of 2.8 million.
Whether or not The Acolyte really did beat Ahsoka during its first day of streaming is hard to say; either way, we've now discovered that it failed to top its fellow Star Wars series in its first five days on the platform.
According to Variety (via SFFGazette.com), the show drew an impressive 11.1 million viewers, almost 3 million less than Ahsoka during the same period.
There may be lots of reasons for this, including the fact Ahsoka featured a well-known character and setting.
- 6/10/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Last week, we learned that The Acolyte had a bigger debut than 2023's Ahsoka with a whopping 4.8 million views on Disney+ during its first day on the streamer.
That was the official word from Disney, anyway, though no first-day viewership numbers were ever officially announced for Ahsoka. Instead, we were told that it took the Star Wars Rebels follow-up five days to reach 14 million views, giving it a per-day average of 2.8 million.
Whether or not The Acolyte really did beat Ahsoka during its first day of streaming is hard to say; either way, we've now discovered that it failed to top its fellow Star Wars series in its first five days on the platform.
According to Variety (via SFFGazette.com), the show drew an impressive 11.1 million viewers, almost 3 million less than Ahsoka during the same period.
There may be lots of reasons for this, including the fact Ahsoka featured a well-known character and setting.
That was the official word from Disney, anyway, though no first-day viewership numbers were ever officially announced for Ahsoka. Instead, we were told that it took the Star Wars Rebels follow-up five days to reach 14 million views, giving it a per-day average of 2.8 million.
Whether or not The Acolyte really did beat Ahsoka during its first day of streaming is hard to say; either way, we've now discovered that it failed to top its fellow Star Wars series in its first five days on the platform.
According to Variety (via SFFGazette.com), the show drew an impressive 11.1 million viewers, almost 3 million less than Ahsoka during the same period.
There may be lots of reasons for this, including the fact Ahsoka featured a well-known character and setting.
- 6/10/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The first episode of The Acolyte, "Lost / Found," ended with the introduction of The Master, a mysterious new villain who is almost certainly a Sith Lord. He wields a red lightsaber and intends to destroy the Jedi, so short of us meeting a new group of dark side Force users, this character must come before Darth Plagueis and Emperor Palpatine.
Fans have been speculating ever since about who might be beneath the mask and, given the secrecy surrounding who he is both in the show and promotional materials, The Master must be either a character we've met in the series or someone from the wider Star Wars franchise.
However, it seems the Loth-cat is now out of the bag.
Footage and photos from the set of The Acolyte appear to have been shared online by a crew member, and while we'd imagine they were swiftly deleted, they're currently all over X,...
Fans have been speculating ever since about who might be beneath the mask and, given the secrecy surrounding who he is both in the show and promotional materials, The Master must be either a character we've met in the series or someone from the wider Star Wars franchise.
However, it seems the Loth-cat is now out of the bag.
Footage and photos from the set of The Acolyte appear to have been shared online by a crew member, and while we'd imagine they were swiftly deleted, they're currently all over X,...
- 6/10/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The first two episodes of The Acolyte hinted at several big mysteries in this Galaxy Far, Far Away and it's apparent the Star Wars TV series will keep fans coming back week-to-week in the hope of learning more.
It's been established that Mae wants to kill four Jedi Masters for their role in separating her and Osha as children and she's already dispatched Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman).
The latter took the Barash Vow, and was shown floating in a silent state of Force meditation for over a decade before willingly drinking the poison Mae presented him with. Next on her list is the Wookie Kelnacca, and a newly released TV spot - first shared on SFFGazette.com - may reveal why he chose to live a solitary life on Khofar.
As you'll see below, the Wookie is shown leaping into action for a battle with Torbin; could...
It's been established that Mae wants to kill four Jedi Masters for their role in separating her and Osha as children and she's already dispatched Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman).
The latter took the Barash Vow, and was shown floating in a silent state of Force meditation for over a decade before willingly drinking the poison Mae presented him with. Next on her list is the Wookie Kelnacca, and a newly released TV spot - first shared on SFFGazette.com - may reveal why he chose to live a solitary life on Khofar.
As you'll see below, the Wookie is shown leaping into action for a battle with Torbin; could...
- 6/9/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Lucasfilm's latest Star Wars series, The Acolyte, debuted on Disney+ earlier this week with a two-episode premiere, and a lot of people have tuned in for the first live-action Galaxy Far, Far Away adventure set in the High Republic Era.
Despite the usual backlash, The Acolyte was a big hit with critics (it currently sits at a most impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and the positive reviews appear to have convinced more than just Star Wars aficionados to give this one a go.
According to Disney+, The Acolyte is the most-watched series premiere of 2024, logging 4.8 million views within its first day of streaming (views are defined as total stream time divided by runtime). Disney+ did not report same-day viewership for the previous Star Wars show, Ahsoka, but did announce that it had reached 14 million views within its first five days on the platform.
With these numbers, The Acolyte has surpassed...
Despite the usual backlash, The Acolyte was a big hit with critics (it currently sits at a most impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and the positive reviews appear to have convinced more than just Star Wars aficionados to give this one a go.
According to Disney+, The Acolyte is the most-watched series premiere of 2024, logging 4.8 million views within its first day of streaming (views are defined as total stream time divided by runtime). Disney+ did not report same-day viewership for the previous Star Wars show, Ahsoka, but did announce that it had reached 14 million views within its first five days on the platform.
With these numbers, The Acolyte has surpassed...
- 6/7/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The Acolyte Showrunner Explains Why Mae Was Ordered To Kill A Jedi Without Using A Weapon - Spoilers
The second episode of Lucasfilm's latest live-action Star Wars series, The Acolyte, reveals some interesting new details about the dangerous mission Mae was given by the mysterious Dark-side warrior glimpsed in the closing moments of the series premiere.
If you haven't watched yet, here's your spoiler warning.
Shortly after Mae dispatches Master Indara in the first episode, we learn that several other Jedi are on her kill list, and it later comes to light that she has very specific instructions when it comes to her method of assassination.
In episode 2, Qimir reminds Mae that her Master has ordered her to kill at least one of the Jedi without the use of a weapon. It was generally assumed that this was simply down to passing a test of skill, but there's a lot more to it.
"We do go into it in future episodes, but I don't mind talking to...
If you haven't watched yet, here's your spoiler warning.
Shortly after Mae dispatches Master Indara in the first episode, we learn that several other Jedi are on her kill list, and it later comes to light that she has very specific instructions when it comes to her method of assassination.
In episode 2, Qimir reminds Mae that her Master has ordered her to kill at least one of the Jedi without the use of a weapon. It was generally assumed that this was simply down to passing a test of skill, but there's a lot more to it.
"We do go into it in future episodes, but I don't mind talking to...
- 6/7/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Die jüngste „Star Wars“-Serie hat Disney+ das beste Starttagergebnis des Jahres einer Serie beschert.
Besser gestartet als jede andere Disney+-Serie in 2024: „Star Wars: Acolyte“ (Credit: ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & Tm)
Mit 4,8 Mio. Abrufen am ersten Tag hat „Star Wars: The Acolyte“ (hier die Spot-Besprechung) Disney+ den besten Starttag des Jahres einer Serie beschert. Das berichten US-Branchenmedien.
Schöpferin der Serie ist Leslye Headland, die zusammen mit Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef als Executive Producer fungierte.
In der Hauptrolle spielt Amandla Stenberg die Kriegerin Mae, die es offenbar auf altgediente Jedi-Meister abgesehen hat. Der von Lee Jung-jae gespielte angesehene Jedi-Meister Sol erkennt schnell, dass die Morde mit tragischen Ereignissen auf dem Planeten Brendok 16 Jahre zuvor, an denen er beteiligt war, zu tun haben müssen. Gut möglich, dass er Maes nächstes Opfer sein könnte.
Weitere Rollen haben u.a. Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith,...
Besser gestartet als jede andere Disney+-Serie in 2024: „Star Wars: Acolyte“ (Credit: ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & Tm)
Mit 4,8 Mio. Abrufen am ersten Tag hat „Star Wars: The Acolyte“ (hier die Spot-Besprechung) Disney+ den besten Starttag des Jahres einer Serie beschert. Das berichten US-Branchenmedien.
Schöpferin der Serie ist Leslye Headland, die zusammen mit Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef als Executive Producer fungierte.
In der Hauptrolle spielt Amandla Stenberg die Kriegerin Mae, die es offenbar auf altgediente Jedi-Meister abgesehen hat. Der von Lee Jung-jae gespielte angesehene Jedi-Meister Sol erkennt schnell, dass die Morde mit tragischen Ereignissen auf dem Planeten Brendok 16 Jahre zuvor, an denen er beteiligt war, zu tun haben müssen. Gut möglich, dass er Maes nächstes Opfer sein könnte.
Weitere Rollen haben u.a. Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
Update: Though it initially appeared that “The Acolyte” may have had a stronger debut than 2023’s “Ahsoka,” Disney shared that the first episode of its latest Star Wars series reached 11.1 million views in its first five days — almost 3 million short of what “Ahsoka” achieved in the same amount of time. “The Acolyte” still represents Disney+’s biggest series premiere of 2024, however.
Previously: “The Acolyte,” Disney+’s newest Star Wars series, reached 4.8 million views in its first day of availability. This marks the streamer’s biggest series premiere of 2024, according to Disney.
An exact first-day viewership total isn’t available for “Ahsoka,” the most recent Star Wars series, though Disney did report that it took five days to reach 14 million views. That comes out to an average of 2.8 million viewers per day — 2 million below the launch of “The Acolyte,” though it’s likely that most of “Ahsoka’s” was concentrated in...
Previously: “The Acolyte,” Disney+’s newest Star Wars series, reached 4.8 million views in its first day of availability. This marks the streamer’s biggest series premiere of 2024, according to Disney.
An exact first-day viewership total isn’t available for “Ahsoka,” the most recent Star Wars series, though Disney did report that it took five days to reach 14 million views. That comes out to an average of 2.8 million viewers per day — 2 million below the launch of “The Acolyte,” though it’s likely that most of “Ahsoka’s” was concentrated in...
- 6/6/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
The Acolyte is set during The High Republic Era and plays out around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. The Jedi Order is at the height of its power and the Galaxy is at peace, a far cry from the rise of the Empire during the prequels.
The Disney+ series has, unfortunately, already received backlash for featuring a diverse cast. Now, a new interview with showrunner Leslye Headland and lead star Amandla Stenberg is likely to only further incense its detractors.
The Wrap (via SFFGazette.com) asked them whether The Acolyte really is "the gayest Star Wars yet," to which Headland responded, "No, I don't think so. Yet people have told me it's the gayest Star Wars and I’m frankly..."
"You're offended?" Stenberg asked. "Into it," Headland responded with a laugh.
They'd go on to poke fun at some of the wider Star Wars franchise's supposed gay themes,...
The Disney+ series has, unfortunately, already received backlash for featuring a diverse cast. Now, a new interview with showrunner Leslye Headland and lead star Amandla Stenberg is likely to only further incense its detractors.
The Wrap (via SFFGazette.com) asked them whether The Acolyte really is "the gayest Star Wars yet," to which Headland responded, "No, I don't think so. Yet people have told me it's the gayest Star Wars and I’m frankly..."
"You're offended?" Stenberg asked. "Into it," Headland responded with a laugh.
They'd go on to poke fun at some of the wider Star Wars franchise's supposed gay themes,...
- 6/6/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The first two episodes of The Acolyte are now streaming on Disney+, and Lucasfilm's latest live-action Star Wars series wastes little time in subverting audience expectations when it comes to one particular character.
Major spoilers follow.
In the series premiere,"Lost/Found," we see mysterious warrior Mae (Amandla Stenberg) confront Jedi Master Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss) in a cantina and command her to attack "with everything she has." Initially dismissive, Indara soon finds herself staring into a familiar face from her past, and the battle is on.
Unable to get the better of the Jedi in a fair fight, Mae resorts to throwing one of her blades at the bartender, and when Indara uses the Force to stop the weapon before it strikes, the Dark-side assassin takes advantage of the distraction by flinging another knife into her opponent's chest.
Killing off the character many assumed was going to be one...
Major spoilers follow.
In the series premiere,"Lost/Found," we see mysterious warrior Mae (Amandla Stenberg) confront Jedi Master Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss) in a cantina and command her to attack "with everything she has." Initially dismissive, Indara soon finds herself staring into a familiar face from her past, and the battle is on.
Unable to get the better of the Jedi in a fair fight, Mae resorts to throwing one of her blades at the bartender, and when Indara uses the Force to stop the weapon before it strikes, the Dark-side assassin takes advantage of the distraction by flinging another knife into her opponent's chest.
Killing off the character many assumed was going to be one...
- 6/6/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The review embargo for The Acolyte lifted yesterday and with 80 verdicts now counted from critics, it sits at a "Certified Fresh" 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes. As we first explained on SFFGazette.com, that puts it in the same ballpark as Andor (96%).
A "Critics Consensus" has also been generated which reads, "Taking fresh risks with Star Wars lore while having infectious fun playing with the stylistic trappings of a galaxy far, far away, The Acolyte is a Padawan series with the potential to become a Master."
However, the Audience Score seems to tell a very different story as it sits at a lowly 46%.
There does appear to be some evidence of review bombing here because it was on 48% several hours before The Acolyte premiered on Disney+. A quick look on social media suggests the main gripe among those "fans" is the show's diverse cast and a supposed "woke agenda" from Lucasfilm.
A "Critics Consensus" has also been generated which reads, "Taking fresh risks with Star Wars lore while having infectious fun playing with the stylistic trappings of a galaxy far, far away, The Acolyte is a Padawan series with the potential to become a Master."
However, the Audience Score seems to tell a very different story as it sits at a lowly 46%.
There does appear to be some evidence of review bombing here because it was on 48% several hours before The Acolyte premiered on Disney+. A quick look on social media suggests the main gripe among those "fans" is the show's diverse cast and a supposed "woke agenda" from Lucasfilm.
- 6/5/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The first two episodes of The Acolyte are now streaming on Disney+, and the series premiere includes a couple of call-backs to the original Star Wars trilogy that can't have slipped past too many fans of the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
Though these aren't exactly massive reveals, if you haven't watched yet and would rather know as little as possible, here's your spoiler warning.
The first nod to classic Star Wars was probably to be expected in a show focusing on Jedi, as we hear Master Vanestra Rwoh (Rebecca Henderson) say “May the Force be with you” to Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) as he departs on a mission. The second is also an oft-repeated Star Wars phrase, but some fans seem to think that it felt a little more... forced.
While waiting with a trap laid for Mae (Amandla Stenberg) on the planet Olega, Jedi Knight Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett...
Though these aren't exactly massive reveals, if you haven't watched yet and would rather know as little as possible, here's your spoiler warning.
The first nod to classic Star Wars was probably to be expected in a show focusing on Jedi, as we hear Master Vanestra Rwoh (Rebecca Henderson) say “May the Force be with you” to Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) as he departs on a mission. The second is also an oft-repeated Star Wars phrase, but some fans seem to think that it felt a little more... forced.
While waiting with a trap laid for Mae (Amandla Stenberg) on the planet Olega, Jedi Knight Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett...
- 6/5/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The first two episodes of The Acolyte are now streaming on Disney+, and Lucasfilm's latest live-action Star Wars series certainly starts with a bang. You might even say it slays!
Major spoilers follow.
The premiere begins with mysterious masked warrior Mae (Amandla Stenberg) walking into a cantina and challenging Jedi Master Indara (Carrie -Anne Moss) to a duel. We've seen quite a bit of their ensuing battle in the various trailers and TV spots, but the outcome is sure to come as a shock to many viewers.
Unable to get the better of Indara in a fair fight, Mae resorts to throwing one of her blades at the bartender, and when her Jedi opponent uses the Force to stop the weapon before it strikes, the Dark-side assassin takes advantage of the distraction by flinging another knife into Indara's chest - killing her almost instantly.
During an interview with EW,...
Major spoilers follow.
The premiere begins with mysterious masked warrior Mae (Amandla Stenberg) walking into a cantina and challenging Jedi Master Indara (Carrie -Anne Moss) to a duel. We've seen quite a bit of their ensuing battle in the various trailers and TV spots, but the outcome is sure to come as a shock to many viewers.
Unable to get the better of Indara in a fair fight, Mae resorts to throwing one of her blades at the bartender, and when her Jedi opponent uses the Force to stop the weapon before it strikes, the Dark-side assassin takes advantage of the distraction by flinging another knife into Indara's chest - killing her almost instantly.
During an interview with EW,...
- 6/5/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Idw's Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures comic books have explored Yoda's place in The High Republic era, leading to hopes among fans that the iconic Jedi Master might show up in The Acolyte.
A Yoda cameo would make sense considering how high the stakes in the series are expected to be. However, new comments from showrunner Leslye Headland (via SFFGazette.com) suggest we should temper expectations about him or any other well-known Star Wars characters making cameo appearances.
"Can you imagine? Can you imagine if they were like, 'No problem. You can use Yoda. Not a big deal. Go for it.' No, there is not [a Yoda cameo]," she admitted. "We are pulling characters from the High Republic, and characters from [EU [Expanded Universe]. That's it."
The mention of the Expanded Universe is bound to draw some interest, particularly if it means Lucasfilm plans to address the lineage of Sith Masters who eventually led to Emperor Palpatine.
A Yoda cameo would make sense considering how high the stakes in the series are expected to be. However, new comments from showrunner Leslye Headland (via SFFGazette.com) suggest we should temper expectations about him or any other well-known Star Wars characters making cameo appearances.
"Can you imagine? Can you imagine if they were like, 'No problem. You can use Yoda. Not a big deal. Go for it.' No, there is not [a Yoda cameo]," she admitted. "We are pulling characters from the High Republic, and characters from [EU [Expanded Universe]. That's it."
The mention of the Expanded Universe is bound to draw some interest, particularly if it means Lucasfilm plans to address the lineage of Sith Masters who eventually led to Emperor Palpatine.
- 6/3/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
With just a few days to go until Star Wars: The Acolyte premiere on Disney+, the latest TV spot for the show offers a terrifying new glimpse at its mysterious Sith villain. The more we see of that helmet, the closer it looks to what Kylo Ren donned in the sequel trilogy.
Darth Vader's grandson being inspired by a powerful Sith from the past wouldn't be a huge surprise and this mysterious character clearly plays a pivotal role in bringing the Sith back to prominence.
Given The Acolyte's place in the Star Wars timeline, it still seems likely that Darth Plagueis or Darth Tenebrous is beneath the mask. However, Lucasfilm may be planning to make some significant changes to much of the lore established in Expanded Universe stories.
Thanks to Bespin Bulletin, we also have intel on the runtimes for The Acolyte's first four episodes:
Episode 1: 41 minutes...
Darth Vader's grandson being inspired by a powerful Sith from the past wouldn't be a huge surprise and this mysterious character clearly plays a pivotal role in bringing the Sith back to prominence.
Given The Acolyte's place in the Star Wars timeline, it still seems likely that Darth Plagueis or Darth Tenebrous is beneath the mask. However, Lucasfilm may be planning to make some significant changes to much of the lore established in Expanded Universe stories.
Thanks to Bespin Bulletin, we also have intel on the runtimes for The Acolyte's first four episodes:
Episode 1: 41 minutes...
- 6/1/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Every fandom has its share of toxic elements, but it's probably fair to say that Disney-era Star Wars has experienced more negativity and backlash from a certain contingent of fans than any other franchise over the past few years.
There was the expected amount of pushback to Daisy Ridley being announced as the lead of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it really picked up when her character, Rey, was deemed to be a "Mary Sue." The toxicity arguably reached a crescendo when Kelly Marie-Tran's Rose Tico was introduced in The Last Jedi, but the general perception among some fans that Star Wars has become too pandering in its representation and inclusivity continues.
With The Acolyte - a new Disney+ series from showrunner Leslye Headland featuring a primarily female cast - on the horizon, Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy acknowledged that coming aboard the franchise can be a "terrifying" experience for female filmmakers and actors.
There was the expected amount of pushback to Daisy Ridley being announced as the lead of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it really picked up when her character, Rey, was deemed to be a "Mary Sue." The toxicity arguably reached a crescendo when Kelly Marie-Tran's Rose Tico was introduced in The Last Jedi, but the general perception among some fans that Star Wars has become too pandering in its representation and inclusivity continues.
With The Acolyte - a new Disney+ series from showrunner Leslye Headland featuring a primarily female cast - on the horizon, Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy acknowledged that coming aboard the franchise can be a "terrifying" experience for female filmmakers and actors.
- 5/30/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
We're now just a few days away from the two-episode premiere of The Acolyte, and between the persistent rumors and the trailers possibly revealing a little too much, it seems Lucasfilm has given the cast the go-ahead to discuss a certain plot point relating to Amandla Stenberg's character.
If you'd rather go in knowing as little as possible, here's your spoiler warning.
Previous reports have claimed that Stenberg will actually play a dual role as twins, one of whom carries out the Jedi assassinations and frames the other for the murders.
During an interview with The Electric Playground, Stenberg confirmed that she is indeed playing twins named Mae and Osha, while also revealing some new details about both sisters.
"I play twins in the show. Their names are Osha and Mae and they kind of skew towards different sides of the force. Although that’s kind of up for...
If you'd rather go in knowing as little as possible, here's your spoiler warning.
Previous reports have claimed that Stenberg will actually play a dual role as twins, one of whom carries out the Jedi assassinations and frames the other for the murders.
During an interview with The Electric Playground, Stenberg confirmed that she is indeed playing twins named Mae and Osha, while also revealing some new details about both sisters.
"I play twins in the show. Their names are Osha and Mae and they kind of skew towards different sides of the force. Although that’s kind of up for...
- 5/30/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
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