What Is the Plot of Star Wars: The Acolyte?

These are truly thrilling times for Star Wars fans, as the new chapters to this ongoing saga are being created at a pace that, for old-time enthusiasts, once would have been inconceivable. In just the last few years, Star Wars devotees have been treated to The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, and Ahsoka; all these TV series have expanded canon in significant ways.

The Star Wars universe is certainly expanding at a much greater rate than the days when fans had to wait for the occasional TV special or video game to tide them over. And the universe is set to experience yet another expansion with the impending release of Star Wars: The Acolyte.

By Ultra Sabers September 5, 2023

The Acolyte is an eight-episode TV series that is expected to air on the Disney+ streaming platform sometime in 2024. News of its upcoming release has inspired the customary speculations among the fan community relating to the content of this new installment in Star Wars canon. The snowballing excitement surrounding The Acolyte isn’t without a firm basis: Disney reportedly spent an eye-crossing $49.2 million just on pre-production for the new series—more than it spent on pre-production for Rogue One.

So what is to be expected of this Star Wars series that its creator Leslye Headland pitched as “Frozen meets Kill Bill”? As usual, the information that has emerged about The Acolyte’s plot is less extensive than fans might prefer, but the various media leaks have provided enough to give them a tantalizing, if incomplete, picture of what the new release will be like. For one thing, it has been confirmed that the series will take place toward the end of the High Republic era—a much-overlooked period in Star Wars lore that is worth learning about.

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The High Republic Era The Focus of The Acolyte Get Your Own Combat-Ready Lightsaber

The High Republic Era

The High Republic era—or the age of the High Republic, as it is sometimes called—refers to the phase in history following the fall of the Old Republic. It lasted about four hundred years, and it represents the height of the Republic Era, a millennia-long period that eventually gave way to the reign of the Empire under the rulership of Sheev Palpatine.

During the High Republic era, the Galactic Republic was at its historical peak, with the Jedi Order in the ascendant and the Sith virtually unknown. It is remembered as a time of peace due to the spread of the Jedi Order, which vigorously explored areas of the galaxy that were still uncharted territory, and the accompanying dissemination of the values that inspired and guided these champions of the light side of the Force.

Though peace predominated, the High Republic era was hardly uneventful. Piracy was a serious problem during this time; the marauders known as the Nihil were the prime exemplars of this phenomenon. Local skirmishes occasionally broke out, such as the Battle of Jedha between the planets Eiram and E’ronoh.

This is the era where The Acolyte is set. The new series, taking place approximately a hundred years before the events of The Phantom Menace, represents the first time that this period of history has been explored in a live-action TV show.

The Focus of The Acolyte

What is The Acolyte about? There’s no better source of information pertaining to all things Star Wars than the official site at StarWars.com. The series synopsis posted there runs as follows:

“The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.”

The Padawan will be played by Amandla Stenberg (who recently lent her voice to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), while the shoes of the Jedi Master will be filled by Lee Jung-jae (from Squid Game). Other notables in the cast include Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Joonas Suotamo (playing a Wookiee Jedi). And Keanu Reeves is said to make a cameo appearance somewhere along the way.

Not much more is known about the storyline, but there are a few intriguing details that have been released. Actress Dafne Keen told CBR.com that the series is “kind of an explanation of how the Sith infiltrated the Jedi. It’s a Sith-led story, which has never been done before.”

Reportedly, the series places a heavy emphasis on martial artistry—that’s apparently where the Kill Bill influence comes in. There’s also a distinct lack of blaster action. The absence of blasters makes perfect sense considering that this specialized type of armament had a relatively late introduction into the Star Wars universe.

Get Your Own Combat-Ready Lightsaber

While counting down the days to the release of The Acolyte, why not dive head-first into the wonderful world of lightsabers? Ultrasabers offers a wide selection of lightsabers that are ideal for sparring, solo choreography, or simply for display as part of your Star Wars memorabilia. Purchase your own collection of Ahsoka Tano lightsabers, which includes The Fulcrum and The Lost Gray, or a Darksaber if you prefer the other side of the Force. There are literally dozens of amazing options to choose from in the Ultrasabers product catalog.