The Acolyteis set to takeStar Warsfans to a time in the galaxy we’ve never seen before in live-action, that being the High Republic era. This was a time of complete and total peace and prosperity for the Republic and the Jedi Order, but even these times of peace, darkness permeates the shadows. Long before Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) would declare himself emperor in the prequel trilogy,the Sith’s return to the galaxywas pre-ordained long before, and that’s exactly whatThe Acolyteis expected to explore.
At its core,The Acolyteis a murder mystery story, where Jedi are being mysteriously killed off throughout the galaxy. The Jedi’s highest ranking members seem to suspect a former Jedi Padawan named Osha (Amandla Stenberg), but her former teacher, Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae), has his doubts. For the full list of cast, characters, and suspects you can expect to see in the highly ambitiousStar Warsprequel,here is a complete cast and character guide forThe Acolyte.
‘The Acolyte’ Will Introduce Another New Lightsaber to Star Wars
As if the lightwhip wasn’t exciting enough.
Amandla Stenberg
The alleged titular namesake ofThe Acolyteis Mae, played by Amandla Stenberg. Best known for her role as Rue inThe Hunger Games, Stenberg also recently starred in the A24 horror comedy,Bodies Bodies Bodies, and the second Spider-Verse film,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Starring in a newStar Warsshow is a dream come true for Stenberg, who has made clear that she is an outspoken super-fan of the franchise,even promoting the film with her violinist skillsby performing a medley ofStar Warssongs.
As a child, Mae is found by Master Sol, who immediately realizes that Mae is strong in the Force. That may very well be the case, but it’s clear that an unusual series of events led to Mae turning her back on the Jedi Order entirely. Mae is now ready to claim vengeance against the people who have wronged her in the past, getting into deadly knife fights with accomplished Jedi Order members like Master Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss). While she’s absolutely going after select Jedi, it’s not currently known if Mae really is behind the recent killings or is simply being set-up by another party.
Lee Jung-jae
Master Sol
Where Mae is a more conflicted individual, the true “good” main character inThe Acolyteappears to be Master Sol.Sol will be played by widely acclaimed Korean actorLee Jung-jae, who rose to international popularity after starring in the wildly successfulSquid Game. Lee Jung-jae is also set to return toSquid Gamefor Season 2.
Master Sol’s role in the Jedi order appears to be to train the next generation of Jedi, as we see him training several younglings throughout the footage we’ve seen thus far. Long ago, he found a young Mae, and agreed to take her on as his student. We don’t yet know how or why Sol parted ways, but his former role as her master is undoubtedly what inspires him to find Mae and find out why these killings are happening.
Carrie-Anne Moss
Master Indara
The Acolyteis a show that’s very intensive in its hand-to-hand combat scenes, so it’s a good thing that the show has a veteran in that field, Carrie-Anne Moss. Most likely know Moss for her iconic role as Trinity fromThe Matrixfranchise, and she’ll be putting her fighting skills to good use as Master Indara.
Master Indara is one of the first people who meets Mae as a would-be assassin. Indara is well-regarded as a combatant with little to no equals, being able to hold her own against a combatant even without using her lightsaber. Still, even a legend like her isn’t prepared for the threat that Mae represents.
Dafne Keen
Star Warsis getting a Marvel alumni added to the cast ofThe AcolytewithDafne Keenas Jedi Padawan Jecki Lon. Keen previously made a big splash into the Marvel world after starring as Laura, AKA X-23, in the Wolverine swan-song,Logan. Additionally, Keen also starred in HBO’s adaptation ofHis Dark Materials.
In a way, Jecki Lon could almost be considered a representation of who Mae would be had she not left the Order. That’s partially because she is the apprentice of Master Sol, and she’s just as determined as he is to find out who is behind these killings. Ambitious she may be, but Jecki still has a lot to learn about being a Jedi.
Rebecca Henderson
Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh
Most of the characters we’ll be meeting inThe Acolyteare brand-new figures. However,Rebecca Henderson, the star ofRussian Doll, will be playing a character that is deeply entrenched in High Republic lore.
Vernestra Rwoh made her franchise debut in the High Republic novels, where she rose the ranks to become a legendary Jedi Master by the time ofThe Acolyte’s events. Vern has become more jaded in recent years following the death of her Padawan, but she doesn’t let her mourning stop her from finding this new Jedi killer. Vern is also immediately recognizable for her signature lightsaber, which has the unique ability to transform into a lightwhip.
Jodie Turner-Smith
Mother Aniseya
Mother Aniseya, played byJodie Turner-Smith, will be a more mysterious figure inThe Acolyte. The Queen & Slim and The Last Ship star is also set to appear inanother upcoming Disney sci-fi film,Tron: Ares.
Typically, when one thinks of “witches” in theStar Warsuniverse, the first group that comes to mind are the Nightsisters of Dathomir. Their unique ability to harness a little-known aspect of the Force, known as Magick, and it appearsThe Acolytewill be expanding beyond Dathomir withMother Aniseya and her own coven of witches. Her arcane ways on the planet of Brendok have made her into a powerful force that even the Jedi fear.
Charlie Barnett
Yord Fandar
A more traditional depiction of a Jedi Knight can be seen in Yord Fandar, played by Rebecca Henderson’sRussian Dollco-star,Charlie Barnett.
Yord Fandar holds the rules and tenets of the Jedi religionin extremely high regard. His dedication to the cause is what got him the role of a guardian at the Jedi Temple, which is a role reserved for the most respected and dedicated of Jedi Knights. He jumps at the chance to find a Jedi killer, even if his determination is somewhat naive.
Joonas Suotamo
Master Kelnacca
Master Kelnacca is a new character for theStar Warscanon, but his actor,Joonas Suotamo, is someone we’ve seen in this franchise before. Suotamo eventually took over the role of Chewbacca afterPeter Mayhewretired from the role, and has played the Wookie icon in every feature film since. Suotamo also played The Scourge in Disney+‘sWillowshow.
Apart fromthe inherent “cool factor” of being a wookie Jedi, not much is known about Master Kelnacca. He’s chosen to spend much of his life in isolation, but he finds himself back in the fold when he learns Jedi are being assassinated.
Manny Jacinto
The Acolyte’s resident scoundrel,Qimir, will be played byThe Good PlacestarManny Jacinto.
Qimir represents the “every day citizen” of the High Republic era, and it’s clear that he has no love for the Jedi nor the Republic. He views them less as benevolent peacekeepers and more like malignant oppressors who simply want control of the galaxy. He made a long living as a smuggler, but is now trying to leave that life behind as a humble trader.
The Masked Sith
Finally, there’s one other character thatrepresents the show’s main antagonist. With their eerie toothed mask and red lightsaber, it seems safe to say this mystery figure is a Sith Lord. The question remains though as to who this individual is. Are they one of the characters above in disguise? Could they be a young Sheev Palpatine? Perhaps they’re the first live-action appearance of a legendary Sith Lord like Darth Bane or Darth Plagueis? We’ll have to wait and see.
The Acolyteis now streaming on Disney+.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
