“ The Acolyte ” was among “ Star Wars ’” most ambitious on-screen stories. The Disney+ series was set during an era even “longer ago” in a galaxy far, far away that had yet to be explored in live action. A crime thriller that portrayed the Jedi in a new light, it introduced characters and lore that challenged preconceptions about the Force and its users.
The show even teased a connection to a legendary dark side figure who had never previously appeared in film or television. And its first season, which concluded in July, ended on a cliffhanger. Unfortunately, Lucasfilm will not be moving forward with “The Acolyte” Season 2, The Times has confirmed.
The cancellation — though not quite unexpected — is still a blow for “Star Wars” that dampens hopes for the franchise’s future. Created by Leslye Headland, “The Acolyte” followed Osha and Mae Aniseya, twins (both played by Amandla Stenberg) with a mysterious connection to the Force and a complicated history with the Jedi. It’s set roughly 100 years before the events of “ Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace ” (1999) during the waning days of the High Republic era.
The show was the first live-action “Star Wars” project to take place during a completely different time period than the core film series known as the Skywalker Saga (“Episode I” through “IX”). Series like “ The Mandalorian ” and “ Ahsoka ” are set between the events of the original and sequel trilogies, whil.