In an interview with Empire Magazine, Star Wars: The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland indicated that Star Wars’ upcoming Disney+ TV show will shed some light upon the inevitable demise of the Jedi. The Acolyte, one of the most exciting projects among Star Wars’ upcoming TV shows, is set 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in the Star Wars timeline, and will therefore inevitably connect to the events of the prequel trilogy. However, Headland has indicated that the link between the two will be very intentional.
In the exclusive interview with Empire Magazine, Headland explained that, for The Acolyte, she was particularly mindful of the events to come in the prequel trilogy. Headland explained:
Headland elaborated upon the nature of The Acolyte’s tensions versus those of the Star Wars prequel trilogy:
Although the events of Order 66, the fall of Anakin Skywalker, and the massacre of the Jedi were devastating in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, they weren’t necessarily all that surprising given the events that had transpired throughout the prequel trilogy. The Jedi, from The Phantom Menace on, had proven themselves to be stubborn, influenced by politics, and much too willing to be involved in a war that sacrificed their morals. Their treatment of Anakin Skywalker in particular made it clear why he would turn.
However, what remains interesting and unexplained is why the Jedi had fallen so far and when exactly that began. Theoretically, the Jedi still should have been peacekeepers. Their (very rapid) turn toward soldiers therefore created a major question mark regarding the path that led them to so quickly jeopardize their morals. Moreover, the Jedi permitted Palpatine’s increasing rise to power, unaware that he was a Sith Lord.
The Acolyte will seemingly begin to address these fault lines, perhaps even directly answering some of these questions. It’s particularly exciting that showrunner Leslye Headland is so invested in and aware of these lingering questions, as that suggests they may truly finally be answered. The extent to which Star Wars: The Acolyte does connect to the Star Wars prequel trilogy, of course, is yet to be revealed, but this comment from Headland is no doubt a very exciting update.
Source: Empire Magazine
Star Wars: The Acolyte begins streaming on Disney+ on June 4, 2024.
ALL STAR WARS MOVIES AND TV SHOWS ARE AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON DISNEY+