When The Acolyte premiered on Disney+ in 2024, it was supposed to mark a bold new era for the faraway galaxy — one that delved into the mysteries of the High Republic, long before the Skywalker saga began. Instead, it swiftly became one of the most divisive chapters in the entire franchise, perhaps even more than the two deeply reviled sequel trilogy films, Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Created by showrunner Leslye Headland and starring Amandla Stenberg, The Acolyte was meant to explore the origins of the Sith and the fragile peace of the Jedi Order. What fans got, however, was inconsistent worldbuilding and questionable lore changes.
Many fans also accused Disney and Lucasfilm of misunderstanding the Star Wars mythology while using The Acolyte as a vessel for modern politics over classic storytelling.
As such, many labeled the show as “woke”, and it didn’t help that both cast and crew went to war with their audience. Headland dismissed fan criticism as “toxic,” while Stenberg’s cringe-worthy “diss track” on social media only poured fuel on the fire.
Related: ‘The Acolyte’ Star Returns to Galaxy Far, Far Away After Being Cut From Franchise | Disney Dining
Now, refusing to go quiet on The Acolyte, Lucasfilm is releasing the next chapter in the form of a behind-the-scenes book titled “The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte”, which was revealed alongside many other in-print projects at NYCC’s Lucasfilm Publishing panel.
Written by StarWars.com editor Kristin Baver with a foreword by Headland, the book promises a deep dive into the show’s creative process, complete with concept art — including new looks at the Stranger’s mask — and commentary from those behind the camera.
But even with glossy artwork and behind-the-scenes insight, no amount of production design can change how the series landed. The Acolyte failed to capture the magic and Season 2 is reportedly no longer in development. With that said, some fans of the series are calling for the second season to happen under the campaign #RenewTheAcolyte.
Those fans will be pleased to know that the show continues to live on in other area of print media, too. There’s a one-shot comic book titled “Star Wars: The Acolyte – Kelnacca”,the prequel novel “Star Wars: The Acolyte – Wayseeker” that was released earlier this year, and a young-adult novel that hit shelves in July.
In live action, however, it seems Disney is eager to move on. Next year’s The Mandalorian & Grogu will mark Star Wars’ return to theaters after a seven-year hiatus, with Starfighter set to follow in 2027. Meanwhile, Ahsoka Season 2 remains the only confirmed live-action Disney+ project currently in production. After The Acolyte, that may be for the best.
“The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte” hits shelves on January 13, 2026.
Were you a fan of The Acolyte? Let us know in the comments!
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