‘The Acolyte’ Is Still Disney’s Boldest ‘Star Wars’ Series

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Despite not being the hit Disney expected and being canceled after one season, The Acolyte deserves credit for its ambition. Critics generally liked the Star Wars show, giving it a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While the 19% audience score reflects some viewers’ negative reactions, it’s also an overly harsh assessment. Though flawed, The Acolyte is much better than a 19% rating suggests.

In 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm, with Star Wars being the most significant part of the purchase. Disney expanded the existing Star Wars story, revised some past elements, and updated the franchise with modern special effects and visuals. However, not every addition Disney made to Star Wars has been well-received, and The Acolyte is proving to be the most controversial. Despite its failure, it’s important to recognize that the show took a considerable risk, which unfortunately contributed to its unpopularity.

‘The Acolyte’ Was Disney’s First ‘Star Wars’ Project to Take Place in a Completely Different Era


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Disney’s first major venture into the Star Wars universe was Rebels, which premiered in 2014. The show acted as a backstory to the original Star Wars trilogy, ultimately connecting to the events of Return of the Jedi from 1983. Since Rebels, every Star Wars film and series has focused on established moments and time periods within the existing story. For instance, Obi-Wan Kenobi continues the story from Revenge of the Sith (2005), Andor and Rogue One lead directly into the original trilogy, and even The Force Awakens (2015) revisits and expands on the plot of A New Hope from 1977.

Unlike other Star Wars shows, The Acolyte ventured into completely new territory. Instead of connecting to existing movies or series, it became the first live-action Star Wars story set far in the past—about a century before The Phantom Menace. This meant very few familiar characters or storylines could appear. Even characters like Yoda were deliberately used sparingly to keep the focus on the new story and expand the Star Wars universe in a unique way.

Disney’s Bold Decision to Set ‘The Acolyte’ So Far in the Past Probably Contributed to the Show’s Downfall


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Many Star Wars fans feel the Skywalker family has been the center of attention for too long and would like to see stories about other characters. Disney has tried to broaden the scope with films like Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story, which follow different heroes. However, some argue these movies still tie back to the Skywalkers, as the events in them ultimately involve or affect members of that family. Because Anakin Skywalker was the first significant Skywalker and his story is so central, it continues to influence the entire Star Wars saga.

With The Acolyte, Star Wars tried giving fans something truly new – an original story within the universe, free from the constraints of established events and with less risk of contradicting existing lore. However, the reaction showed fans actually preferred something more recognizable. Skeleton Crew Season 1, released later that year, proved this, earning a much higher 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While Skeleton Crew also introduced new characters, its setting just a few years after Return of the Jedi likely appealed to fans because it kept iconic figures like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo within the realm of possibility.

The Quality of ‘The Acolyte’s Source Material Makes the Show’s Shortcomings Even More Disappointing

Although the Disney+ show The Acolyte brought it wider attention, the High Republic era was already established as part of Star Wars lore. The High Republic is a story told through novels, comics, and other media. The Acolyte takes place after the main High Republic story has finished, acting as a continuation of that era. While Vernestra Rwoh (played by Rebecca Henderson) appeared in the original books, most of the characters in The Acolyte are new, and many are even younger than characters who existed during the original High Republic timeline.

It’s easy to see why people have been critical of the Disney+ show. While the characters were okay, the story just wasn’t very captivating or memorable. This is in stark contrast to the High Republic books, which are fantastic. Spanning three distinct eras, the High Republic timeline is incredibly rich and detailed. The characters truly come alive, and their relationships are often the best part of each book. If The Acolyte had managed to capture that same energy, or even successfully brought some of those beloved characters to live-action, Star Wars might have avoided another disappointment.

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2025-12-11 15:38