The Acolytestar Manny Jacinto has dropped an intriguingDarth Plagueishint, while discussing the original hopes that the show would run for three seasons and potentially more.The Acolytewas the firstStar Warsshow canceledby Lucasfilm, and that’s particularly tragic given it was always clear the studio had high hopes. The budget was eye-watering, Lucasfilm Publishing and even Marvel Comics signed off on a surprising number of tie-ins, and the range of action figures was absolutely delightful.
Speaking at FanExpo San Francisco (viaCollider), Manny Jacinto has just revealed the project was more ambitious than we’d ever realized. Asked about the connection between his mysterious Sith Lord and Darth Plagueis, glimpsed at the end ofThe Acolyte, he insisted their relationship was distinctly unusual - and was being saved for eitherThe Acolyteseason 2, or even a third season.
“Oh man, that’s a tough question. They’re not [connected], they’re definitely not. Oh man, how do I answer that? What time is it? [laughs] There are definitely a lot of different theories, like who he is, because we never actually know his true identity. Is Qimir’s name actually Qimir? We definitely wanted to explore it.There was definitely going to be more of Plagueis in the second, or if not, the third seasons of the show, but I just can’t say, because, you know, we could come back. I don’t want to spoil anything, or give anybody any false hope, but I would just say there was a lot more to explore, for sure.”
What Manny Jacinto’s Comments Mean For Star Wars
He’s right that this story may still be told
Manny Jacinto’s performance as the Sith Lord known as the Stranger was absolutely phenomenal, and it’s certainly upsetting that this story was canceled before it had the chance to be finished. He’s made it clear he hopes thatThe Acolytewill return in some way, and there is precedent - although it may not involve Jacinto.Solo: A Star Wars Story’s loose plot threads were ultimately tied together in a succession of major comic-book events, for example, and something similar could happen here.
Jacinto’s curious comments about Qimir and Darth Plagueis raise a lot more questions, of course. He’s playing it coy over whether “Qimir” is the Stranger’s real name at all, perhaps suggesting he’s a previously-established character of some kind. And if the Stranger is not part of the line of theSith Rule of Two, is he actually part of a rival Sith faction being monitored by Darth Plagueis? The possibilities are endless, and it can only be hoped they’ll be explored in some way.
Our Take On The Stranger & The Acolyte’s Future
This is a story that needs to be told
The Acolytewas far from a perfect show, especially given the astronomical budget. Showrunner Leslye Headland sadly made a big mistake in leaving some of the more interesting ideas - the partnership between Osha and Qimir, and the tie to Darth Plagueis - until theend ofThe Acolyte, setup for season 2 rather than elements that were paid off in the first season. Now, afterThe Acolyte’s cancelation, we’re left with unfulfilled promises and unanswered questions.
Lucasfilm has gone absolutely silent overThe Acolyte, andit feels as though it’s unlikely the show will return. Tie-ins haven’t been canceled, though, which is a good sign; the story elements aren’t off-limits, and could well be returned to. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future has in store for Qimir, Osha, and Darth Plagueis.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
