#RenewTheAcolyte: New Information Comes To Light on Season 2 of Ill-Fated ‘Star Wars’ Show
Are you ready for a second season of The Acolyte?
Lucasfilm Ended 2024 with Mixed Reactions
Lucasfilm closed out 2024 with the Disney+ premiere of Skeleton Crew, but the arrival of the long-anticipated series wasn’t enough to quiet growing uncertainty around the future of Star Wars on streaming. As the galaxy expands in new directions, the franchise is also confronting questions about how it navigates fan expectations, bold storytelling, and behind-the-scenes strategy.
The Acolyte Sparks Heated Debate Among Star Wars Fans
One of the most talked-about entries in the franchise this past year was The Acolyte. Set during the High Republic Era—a previously unexplored timeline in live-action—creator Leslye Headland’s series aimed to reframe the mythology of the Force, spotlighting the early stirrings of the Sith during a time the Jedi considered their peak. The result was a high-concept experiment that drew comparisons to the divisive reception of 2017’s Star Wars: Episode VIII–The Last Jedi.
From the start, The Acolyte was met with fierce discourse online. Marketed as a “female-centric” series, production was led by a queer woman and featured a broadly inclusive ensemble cast. Some viewers celebrated the move as a step forward, while detractors labeled the show “woke” before a single episode aired. The reaction only intensified following its premiere, especially as the show delved into opaque Jedi politics, complex mythology, and major twists, most notably, the live-action debut of Darth Plagueis.
Despite taking big creative swings across its eight episodes, The Acolyte was ultimately canceled. Reports of low viewership circulated, though some fans argued the decision may have been influenced by ongoing backlash. The cast—including Amandla Stenberg (Osha/Mae Aniseya), Lee Jung-jae (Master Sol), Manny Jacinto (Qimir), and Jodie Turner-Smith (Mother Aniseya)—faced a barrage of online criticism during the show’s run.
Unlike Willow, which was pulled from Disney+ in 2023, The Acolyte remains available to stream, though its future remains unclear.
Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman offered some transparency on the matter: “So as it relates to Acolyte, we were happy with our performance, but it wasn’t where we needed it to be, given the cost structure of that title, quite frankly, to go and make a season two,” Bergman told Vulture. “So that’s the reason why we didn’t do that.”
However, some industry metrics suggest the series had more traction than it was credited for. Parrot Analytics reported that The Acolyte outpaced several other Star Wars shows—including Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka—in terms of demand.
As The Direct noted, “Parrot Analytics tracks the most ‘in-demand’ series by measuring interest, engagement, and viewership across social media, streaming sites, and other sources.” These insights offer a look at U.S. audience engagement compared to the average series.
Despite its detractors, The Acolyte earned applause for its unique portrayal of the Jedi, the onscreen dynamic between Stenberg’s Osha and Jacinto’s Qimir, and an inventive take on Force lore. Seven months post-cancellation, The Direct reported: “The series has demand in the U.S. of 20.4 times the market average in the last 30 days–a level held by only 2.7% of shows that Parrot Analytics classes as ‘outstanding.’”
#RenewTheAcolyte Gains Traction One Year Later
This week, as the show celebrated its one-year anniversary, one of the series’ stars reignited conversation around a possible second season. Rebecca Henderson, who portrayed Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh, added her voice to the growing fan-led #RenewTheAcolyte campaign.
Henderson responded to a post from a fan account with a message of appreciation, joining those still rallying behind the series. The account Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) captured the interaction:
Vernestra Rwoh actress Rebecca Henderson posts about THE ACOLYTE on the 1 year anniversary of the show.
“Thank you for all your love and support! #RenewTheAcolyte #AcolyteSummer”
June 4 marked the show’s first anniversary, and social media lit up with commentary. Some fans expressed disappointment that a series willing to explore fresh territory was cut short, while others doubled down on their view that the show didn’t meet expectations.
Star Wars‘ Streaming Future Looks Uncertain
Looking ahead, the only confirmed Star Wars series on the horizon is Ahsoka Season 2, which is currently in production under Dave Filoni and aiming for a 2026 release. That launch is expected to follow The Mandalorian and Grogu, the franchise’s return to theaters, also slated for 2026.
The film is said to take the place of The Mandalorian Season 4, shifting the focus back to theatrical storytelling for the first time since 2019.
Other Star Wars movie projects remain in various stages of development. Simon Kinberg is developing a new trilogy meant to introduce a fresh era in the saga, though it remains unclear whether it ties into Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s New Jedi Order, which centers around Daisy Ridley’s Rey.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy recently confirmed that Shawn Levy’s project—Star Wars: Starfighter—will enter production following Jon Favreau’s MandoVerse film. At Star Wars Celebration Tokyo, the studio confirmed a May 2027 release date for Levy’s movie and will star Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth.
In his conversation with Vulture, Bergman signaled that more content is still in development: “…we’re looking at a number of additional series that are in development. We’ll see what we decide to do. As I said earlier, they have to be great, and when we’re in the position where we think we have what we want, we’re going to move forward.”
As Star Wars recalibrates its approach to TV and film, the studio faces a pivotal stretch. Whether it can recapture the spark of earlier Disney+ hits—or find success in theatrical form once again—remains to be seen.
Are you hoping for a second season of The Acolyte? Let us know in the comments.
