A Jedi Assassin Lurks in ‘The Acolyte’ Trailer As It’s Existence Is Threatened: New ‘Star Wars’ Series Unfolds a Century Before the Prequels

Disney has released the trailer for its latest “Star Wars” series, “The Acolyte,” scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on June 4th.

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A Jedi Assassin Lurks in ‘The Acolyte’ Trailer

Set a century prior to the events of the franchise’s prequel trilogy, “The Acolyte” unfolds within the High Republic era of the “Star Wars” universe, marking the deepest exploration yet in live-action productions. Described in an official synopsis, the series delves into a compelling narrative: “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, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems.”

In the trailer’s opening scenes, Lee’s Jedi master is seen instructing a gathering of younglings, while Stenberg’s veiled assassin makes an assassination attempt on a fellow Jedi, portrayed by Carrie-Anne Moss, within a cantina setting. Prompted by the attack, a cohort of Jedi embarks on a galaxy-spanning pursuit to apprehend the assailant before she eliminates them individually. As tension escalates, a climactic showdown ensues, with Jedi brandishing their diverse array of lightsabers, contrasting with the red blade wielded by the assassin.

‘The Acolyte’ Cast and Production

Joining the ensemble cast are Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Joonas Suotamo.

Show creator Leslye Headland takes on the roles of showrunner and executive producer for “The Acolyte.” Joining her as executive producers are Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King, Kathleen Kennedy, and Jason Micallef, with Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana serving as co-executive producers. Rayne Roberts and Damian Anderson are credited as producers for the series.

The Jedi’s Existence Is Threatened In The New ‘The Acolyte’ Trailer

In the latest trailer for “Star Wars: The Acolyte,” the dark side looms large. The highly anticipated Disney+ series, crafted by Leslye Headland, the mind behind “Russian Doll,” promises Amandla Stenberg’s character’s daring mission to infiltrate and eradicate the Jedi, marking one of the franchise’s most ambitious endeavors yet. Set a century before the events of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, during the High Republic era, the show hints at an existential threat facing the Jedi Order. Amidst mysterious deaths and growing disillusionment across the galaxy, the Jedi face unprecedented challenges.

The expansive era of the High Republic has been extensively explored in Star Wars literature, currently under the spotlight through the publishing initiative “Star Wars: The High Republic.” This vast expanse of the Star Wars universe, both temporally and spatially, offers rich terrain for storytelling. During a discussion with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy reflected on the potential of “The Acolyte” series, highlighting the breadth of exploration possible within this expansive universe.

“We actually were intrigued with that because if that show works, then it really gives us an opportunity to expand on that. And that’s what’s so great about television because it gives us sort of this larger playground for experimenting.”

Stenberg’s involvement as the lead was initially reported in December 2021, although Lucasfilm officially confirmed their casting during Stenberg’s appearance at SDCC last year while promoting A24’s horror film “Bodies Bodies Bodies.” Subsequently, several other names were linked to the project, including Jodie Turner-Smith and Emmy-winner Lee Jung-Jae from “Squid Game,” as well as Manny Jacinto and Charlie Barnett from “Russian Doll.” As production commenced for the series last November, the stellar cast continued to grow with the additions of Carrie-Anne Moss, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Dafne Keen, further elevating the project’s caliber.

The official synopsis of the show is 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 Acolyte is currently set to be released in June 2024. Watch the trailer.