10 Ways Star Wars Can Redeem The Acolyte, After Its Sudden Cancelation (2025)

The Acolyte has become one of the most divisive and controversial Star Wars shows to date, but despite its cancelation, the series can still redeem itself in many ways. Even after the mixed reactions to the previous Star Wars shows, many fans were excited about the series that would bring the High Republic era to live-action. With the promise of a Sith-centric story and a dash of mystery, it seemed The Acolyte was a sure success.

Sadly, The Acolyte suffered from poor reviews, declining viewership, and heated online debate between fans. Only a month after the season finale, it was reported that The Acolyte had been canceled and would not receive a second season. While The Acolyte certainly has problems, the unresolved storylines had great potential, and a multimedia franchise like Star Wars has many avenues for continuing the show.

10 Make An Acolyte Season 2 (But With A Much Lower Budget)

The results didn't justify an enormous budget anyway

One of the most likely reasons The Acolyte was canceled was because the fan response wasn't good enough to justify its budget. Despite the episodes being so short (and not always looking good), The Acolyte had a budget of $230 million, making it hard to be profitable even if it was critically acclaimed. Andor season 1 cost even more to make, but that show looked amazing and received near-universal praise.

Lowering the budget significantly could incentivize Disney and Lucasfilm to greenlight a second season, but this seems unlikely. Star Wars: The Clone Wars was incredibly popular but took years to be revived for another season, and the fanbase isn't as likely to fight for The Acolyte. A smaller budget could force the team to be more creative or make it even harder to turn out something good.

9 Make The Acolyte's Cliffhanger Ending Into A New Mystery

Uncovering the past was a crucial part of season 1

If a direct follow-up is off the table, another Star Wars project could use The Acolyte's cliffhanger to its advantage. A new group of characters could slowly unravel what happened to The Acolyte's characters after season 1, combining both stories as the mystery unfolds. This would be similar to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords, set five years after the first game with a new set of characters.

While this idea would be intriguing, it would be more confusing than picking up where season 1 left off. Fans would also be disappointed that the show skipped over what they actually wanted to see, similar to how the Star Wars sequel trilogy skipped over Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order. Still, it's worth considering since a new Star Wars story may be more likely than a direct sequel to The Acolyte.

8 The Witches Of Brendok Vs. The Nightsisters

Two different witch covens with similar abilities

The Acolyte introduced a new group of witches called the Brendok coven, and fans inevitably compared them to the Nightsisters of Dathomir. Both groups are matriarchal, connect to the Force through dark magic, and have no love for the Jedi. The witches of Brendok never received a full backstory, so a book or comic could flesh out their history and reveal if they are connected to the Nightsisters.

The Marvel Star Wars comics have revealed more about groups like the Knights of Ren, so finding a way to incorporate the witches of Brendok wouldn't be difficult. They could be a splinter faction of the Nightsisters, a rival witch coven, or the groups could have fought together against the Jedi. This potential connection would be more relevant now that Ahsoka has brought the Nightsisters into live-action.

7 A Novelization Of The Acolyte Season 1

A new and more detailed version of the story

The first Star Wars story ever released was the original film novelization in 1976, and all subsequent movies (plus a few TV shows) have also been adapted into books. This allowed the authors to get inside the characters' heads, include deleted scenes, and put their own spin on the story. The novelizations helped redeem the less acclaimed Star Wars movies, with some being better than the original film.

It's possible that a novelization could do the same for The Acolyte season 1, giving readers a greater appreciation for the story and more reason to want a second season. Of course, The Acolyte season 1's runtime is approximately four and a half hours, which could require two books if the goal is to expand the story. Then again, some fans felt part of the show dragged on, so maybe a movie-length version of the story would work better.

6 A High Republic Video Game Featuring Acolyte Characters

Star Wars Eclipse is one possibility

Star Wars fans are always eager for new and exciting video games, and none have been set during the High Republic era so far. Star Wars Eclipse was announced in December 2021, but it has no release date, and the game website says it will focus on new characters. Whether this stays true, allowing fans to play as characters from The Acolyte could be very exciting.

The lightsaber duels and Force powers were one of the best parts of The Acolyte and would be perfect for a video game. The format also allows for a longer storyline and side missions, making it easy to work in Acolyte characters. A new game based solely on The Acolyte may not be likely, but Star Wars Eclipse shows a High Republic game is inevitable, and long-lived characters could easily appear.

5 A Spinoff About Qimir And Vernestra Rwoh's Backstory

What led to their falling out?

While the man initially known as "Qimir" is still wrapped in mystery, The Acolyte confirmed that he was once a Jedi who was betrayed by someone he trusted. The finale strongly implied that Qimir was Vernestra Rwoh's Padawan and that she scarred him on the back with her lightwip. With so many unanswered questions about their history, a spinoff could explore what led to their falling out.

This would help explain how Vernestra changed so much since the High Republic books and comics, now willing to hide secrets from the Jedi Council and the Senate. It would also show how Qimir met Darth Plagueis and the nature of their master/apprentice relationship. Qimir was easily one of the best parts of The Acolyte, so seeing his origin story is too good an opportunity to miss.

4 A Canon Version Of Star Wars: Darth Plagueis

What is the wise Sith Lord up to in this era?

Darth Plagueis was first mentioned in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, but James Luceno's brilliant novel Star Wars: Darth Plagueis made the titular Sith Lord one of the franchise's most popular characters. The story chronicles Plagueis' rise to power and how he recruited a young Palpatine as his apprentice, Darth Sidious. The novel also managed to weave together countless Star Wars stories to create the perfect backstory to the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

After his shocking cameo in The Acolyte's season finale, it would be a shame if Plagueis' life wasn't explored further in canon. A new author could weave together various canon stories like Luceno did in Legends, while also exploring a part of Plagueis' life that the original novel never focused on. Even if a full-length novel doesn't happen, Plagueis will almost certainly return in some form.

3 Make Qimir and Osha The Founders Of The Knights Of Ren

A prominent fan theory throughout season 1

One of the most intriguing Acolyte theories claims that Qimir is in fact the founder of the Knights of Ren from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Aside from the visual similarities, Qimir's philosophy seems similar to the Knights of Ren, as he wants to use his power as he pleases. While the Sith seek to control the galaxy through long-term planning, the Knights of Ren are marauders who attack worlds and take what they want.

Because Palpatine eventually becomes Plagueis' apprentice, Qimir's time as a Sith can't last forever. This would lead to him and Osha leaving the Jedi and Sith behind to create something new, mirroring what Kylo Ren asked Rey to do in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If the franchise goes this route, the Marvel Star Wars comics would be the ideal medium, since they've already explored the Knights of Ren.

2 Connect The Acolyte To Upcoming Star Wars Movies & TV Shows

Give fans more reasons to invest in its characters and storylines

There are plenty of upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, meaning any one of them could connect to The Acolyte. Like most long-running franchises, Star Wars tends to bring back familiar elements to connect its various stories. The Mandalorian and its spinoffs built off Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, creating a TV saga spanning more than 16 years.

This approach can reward longtime fans and incentivize new fans to watch older stories to learn a character's backstory. Some options for The Acolyte include bringing back characters with a long lifespan, having Rey find a holocron belonging to a High Republic Jedi, Ahsoka Tano hearing Sol's voice in the World Between Worlds, etc. Renewed interest in The Acolyte would give Star Wars a reason to continue its story.

1 A Book Or Comic Adaptation Of The Unmade Seasons

Resolving The Acolyte's story in another medium

A second season of The Acolyte may be unlikely, but that doesn't mean the story can't be wrapped up another way. When Star Wars: The Clone Wars was canceled, the show continued through The Clone Wars Legacy, a multimedia project that adapted unproduced episodes into books, comics, and story reels. Showrunner Leslye Headland considered three seasons and a film for The Acolyte, so there are plenty of stories left to tell.

Although The Acolyte's story will surely continue in some way, it's hard to say if a direct adaptation of the planned seasons is possible. Solo: A Star Wars Story never got a sequel, but Lady Qi'ra' story was continued through the main Marvel Star Wars comic series, so this may be more likely for The Acolyte. Either way, it's a fun possibility to consider and would definitely help redeem The Acolyte after its cancelation.

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The Acolyte

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.

Release Date

June 4, 2024

Franchise(s)

Star Wars

Cast

Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Joonas Suotamo, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Leah Brady, Manny Jacinto, Rebecca Henderson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dean-Charles Chapman, Lauren Brady, Anthony J. Abraham, Thara Shöön, Danielle Xin Yao Waterman, Sienna Khiroya, Jeramiah Evans, Dan Milne, Thomas Coombes, Archie Singh Swali, Nick Court, Ed Kear, Jumayn Hunter, Scroobius Pip, Abigail Thorn, Margarita Levieva, Amy Tsang, Saskia Allen, Deborah Rosan, Tabitha Alege, Paul Bullion, Indra Ové, Derek Arnold, Lewis Young

Character(s)

Mae, Master Sol, Kelnacca, Yord Fandar, Jecki Lon, Little Mae, Qimir, Master Vernestra Rwoh, Master Indara, Mother Aniseya, Master Torbin, Padawan Torbin, Little Osha, Fillik, Tasi Lowa, Youngling, Restrained Convict, Convict, Olega Urchin, Olega Master, Olega Padawan, Scavenger, Ensign Eurus, Mother Koril, Ensign Rane, Scout Sarria, Ensign Shima, Elder Jaalyn, Master Lakshay, Master Holden, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, Jedi Knight

Seasons

1

Story By

Leslye Headland

Writers

Leslye Headland, Charmaine De Grate, Kor Adana

Directors

Leslye Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez

Showrunner

Leslye Headland