The last four years have seen the Star Wars universe shift its focus to the Mandalorians, with the Jedi seemingly playing second fiddle to their adventures.
Now, Lucasfilm is ready to bring the spotlight back to arguably the franchise's greatest protagonists through the upcoming The Acolyte show. Apparently, the anticipated series is set to do what no Star Wars project has been able to accomplish.
The Acolyte Director Confirms Show's Massive Jedi Count Bigger than Any Star Wars Project
Speaking on the Dagobah Dispatch podcast (via The Direct), showrunner and director Leslye Headland teased the show's unprecedented Jedi count which according to her will be bigger than any Star Wars project we've seen.
Explaining what sets the series apart, Headland said: "I would say that The Acolyte stands out because it is the earliest in the Star Wars timeline than we have ever been in live-action. We are towards the end of the High Republic, leading into the prequels, George [Lucas]’s prequels. So we are looking at a time period where the Jedi are at the height of their power, we’re looking at a time period where there is peace throughout the galaxy, and it was very challenging and interesting to make a Star Wars with no war in it."
She added: "Though, the question became, ‘Well, what should the show be about if it’s not going to be about galactic conflict?’ And I think that what makes this show different and interesting is that it’s from the perspective of the bad guys or the villains of Star Wars. These are people who are using the Force in their own way, dipping into the darker side of the Force, and are doing it without being sanctioned by the larger institution, which in this case is the Jedi. And I think that Star Wars is always about some version of the underdog vs. the institution."
"And I just thought it was very interesting to do a show about the bad guys and to set that during that time period made the most sense. So I think that’s what sets it apart. It’s kind of almost flipped. We have more Jedi than you’ve seen in any other of the Star Wars content."
And although the series boasts a massive Jedi ensemble, Headland assured fans that it won't be Jedi-centric. "But at the same time, I think you see more morally ambiguous characters than you’ve seen in other Star Wars content. And I think I can say this pretty confidently: I don’t think you’re going to see action in other shows the way that you see it used and utilized in our show."
Also Read: Lucasfilm Reportedly Cancels Star Wars: The Acolyte in Shocking Report
It only makes sense for the show to feature a massive Jedi count because, after all, it's set in the High Republic Era where they pretty much ruled the galaxy.
The Acolyte's release window has yet to be revealed but the show is expected to hit Disney+ sometime in 2024.
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