The upcoming “Star Wars: The Acolyte” series for Disney+ is reportedly in talks with Amandla Stenberg to play the lead role.
Stenberg first broke out in the “The Hunger Game” movies. They later went on to receive critical acclaim for their lead role in “The Hate U Give,” and most recently appeared in the film adaptation of “Dear Evan Hansen.”
Details of the character, or even much about the show itself, have not been released, but according to Star Wars lore, an acolyte is one who trains under an experienced Sith Lord. It’s the Dark Side of The Force equivalent of a Jedi Padawan.
During Disney Investor Day in 2020, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy first announced the series saying,”Leslye Headland, Emmy-nominated creator of the mind-bending series ‘Russian Doll,’ is a boldly innovative filmmaker bringing her new Star Wars series to Disney+. ‘The Acolyte’ is a mystery thriller that will take us into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging Dark Side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.”
The High Republic era of the Star Wars timeline ended about 50 years prior to the events of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.”
This puts the series in the extremely early days of the Star Wars Universe, when the Galactic Republic was said to be at its height. It was also a golden age for the Jedi, who were significantly more active throughout the galaxy.
The High Republic Era was first mentioned in the 2019 audiodrama “Dooku: Jedi Lost,” but there is now a series of comic books that go into greater detail. “Star Wars: The Acolyte” will be the first on-screen production set in this era of the timeline.
The show is slated to begin production in mid-2022, with Headland serving as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.