Lucasfilm recently announced a whole series of new “Star Wars” series on Disney +. Right in the middle is “The Acolyte” by Leslye Headland. The previously sparse information about the series is slowly condensing.
The second season of “The Mandalorian” has just ended and we know that the “Star Wars” series is only really getting started. The “Mandalorian” spin-off “The Book Of Boba Fett” is already being shot and will be released in December 2021. The third season of “The Mandalorian” is also in the works and the scripts for the other spin-offs “Ahsoka” and “Rangers” are in the works Of The New Republic ”is being written.
» “The Mandalorian” on Disney +*
But there are also series that are not directly linked to “The Mandalorian”: “Star Wars: Andor”, a “Rogue One” spin-off, is already being shot, “Obi-Wan Kenobi” with Ewan McGregor in his legendary role is to follow from the beginning of 2021.
But then there is another series that is much more detached from all these projects – and that is precisely why it sounds so interesting to us: “The Acolyte”!
This is “The Acolyte”
It has been known for a long time that the author Leslye Headland (Netflix series “Matrjoschka”, movie “The wedding of our thickest friend”) is working on a “Star Wars” series. For a few days now we have finally known a little more:
At an official Disney announcement “The Acolyte” was called a mystery thriller. The series is set in the final days of the so-called High Republic, when the dark power is just gaining strength and secrets are exchanged and intrigues are spun in the shadows.
We could also see a legendary Sith and his no less legendary pupil (again), but more on that in a moment …
The High Republic: A New “Star Wars” Era
Let’s first take a look at the “High Republic” era mentioned in the announcement, because this is a crucial “Star Wars” era that we will be told about for the first time from January 2021. From then on, numerous novels and comics appear at that time. In a coordinated collaboration of several publishers and authors, adult novels, young adult stories, short stories and Marvel comics adventures will appear, some of which are more strongly, some only loosely connected, but all of which are set at the time of the “High Republic”.
This era is set around 200 years before the events in “Episode I”. The republic is ruled by a righteous chancellor and the Jedi are at the height of their power. But strife looms at the outer edges of the galaxy, so the Jedi have to intervene. Because this is where the Nihils are up to mischief, a kind of pirate group with a political agenda that can be dangerous even to the most powerful Jedi.
The beginning book of the new era “Light Of The Jedi” will be available in English from January 5, 2021 (The German translation will follow much later). From January 5th, the novel “A Test Of Courage”, aimed at a younger audience, will also be available. The first Marvel comic will follow from January 6th, additional books in February – and it will go on like this all through 2021 …
» “Star Wars: Light of the Jedi (The High Republic)” bei Amazon*
» “Star Wars The High Republic: A Test of Courage” bei Amazon*
» Marvel-Comic “Star Wars: The High Republic #1 (of 6)” bei Amazon*
“The Acolyte”: A prequel to “Episode I”?
With the plot 200 years before the events of “Episode I”, we see completely new characters in “The High Republic”, including the Jedi Avar Kriss, Loden Greatstorm and Keeve Trennis, which we already mentioned to you a while ago in an article imagined:
“Star Wars: The High Republic”: These are the new Jedi
Yoda is also alive at this point, who will also be present in the stories, but on whom there should be no focus. But now we come back to the series “The Acolyte”, which is supposed to take place at the end of the “High Republic” era. So far, many have indicated that this was around 100 years before the events in “Episode I” the case is. But now a new statement from James Waugh, a member of the Lucasfilm executive team, provides a new timeframe.
He recently spoke about the fantasy novel “The Vow Of Silver Dawn”, which will only appear in China exclusively to help “Star Wars” gain more fans there. The story of a young padawan who finds himself in conflict between the demands of the Jedi Council and his personal goals, on the one hand should also play at the end of the “High Republic” era, on the other hand only 50 years before “Episode I”.
And since “The Acolyte” also takes place towards the end of the “High Republic” era, the series could be set at a similar time as “The Vow Of Silver Dawn”: almost 50 years before Qui-Gon Jinn about a boy named Anakin Skywalker stumbles. And with that, “The Acolyte” would probably be a direct prequel to “Episode I” …
Darth Plagueis und Darth Sidious in “The Acolyte”?
Because we know from the official announcement from Disney that the series is also about the strengthening of the dark power. And how did the dark power grow stronger at that time? The future Senator, Supreme Chancellor and then Emperor Sheev Palpatine, also known by his Sith name Darth Sidious, is taught in it – by his powerful teacher Darth Plagueis.
So in “The Acolyte” we could finally see that legendary Sith master around whom so many myths entwine and to whom there are so many hints in the prequel trilogy by George Lucas. So we may finally see how Darth Plagueis was able to influence the Midi-Chlorians so that they created life, and how he could even save others from death with his power.
Appearances of a (then probably young) Palpatine / Sidious and Darth Plagueis in “The Acolyte” have of course not yet been confirmed, but with the entire chronological order of the series it seems pretty clear: Anyone who talks about the rise of the dark power in this epoch can’t get past this duo.
We still have to be patient a little. There is still no date for “The Acolyte” on Disney + and it should be there in 2022 at the earliest, and possibly even in 2023.
Mistake in the season finale of “The Mandalorian”? The dark sword confuses the fans
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