Summary
The Acolytemight be absolutely done at Disney+ after its first season, but one project set to take fans even further back in time to explore one of the show’s most prominent characters in greater detail is still scheduled to get to fans as previously planned.
The Acolytewas initially a bit of an enigma toStar Warsfans, many of whom had no clue what to really expect from a show set in what was basically now the Wild West of the franchise’s High Republic era, a time period that the company only recently started to paint the outline of following the relegation of mostStar Warscontent to theLegendscontinuity, banishing most stories from the High Republic era from the canon. The project would garner a lot of attention and became quite polarizing, leading to a lot of mixed responses when it was confirmed thatThe Acolytewas canceled despite Star Wars hinting that a season 2 would happen.
The cancellation was followed by a wave of fan discourse in both directions, including the idea that the upcomingStar Wars Eclipsecan behave like a spiritual successor toThe Acolyte,but there’s an upcoming project that could more directly give fans of the show another look into the world ofThe Acolyte.As per the official listing on thePenguin Random Housewebsite, the planned prequel bookStar Wars: The Acolyte: Wayseekeris still set to release on May 27, 2025 despite the cancellation of the main series. The book, which retails as a hardcover for $30 and will be available though several major stores, is the next part of Disney’s High Republic rollout. The Penguin Random House site also contains a brief descriptor of the book’s plot that might be interesting to potential readers.
Vernestra Rwoh has spent over a decade exploring the Outer Rim as a Wayseeker, answering to no other authority but the Force itself. When a request from the Jedi Council orders her back to Coruscant, Vernestra initially refuses, feeling that her first priority should be to the beings she’s already serving. But after Jedi Master Indara arrives to ask for Vernestra’s aid in person, Vernestra finds herself pulled back into Coruscant’s complicated world of Republic politics and underworld crime. As the two delve further into their investigation, and the lines between Jedi and Republic business blur, Vernestra must reconsider what it means to serve for Light and Life.
Rebecca Henderson’s Vernestra Rwoh was one of the most important players inThe Acolyte’sshort run.Star Wars: The Acolyte: Wayseekeris set to further develop the character’s backstory and might potentially answer some of the more pressing questions that fans might have from the show’s first season. Additionally, it does seem like the bulk of the story will show Rwoh as an outsider to the Order that she would eventually come to great standing in, which might just be a massive selling point for fans of the show. One of the things that detractors of the direction of The Acolyte might have not appreciated (despite their very valid criticism elswhere) isthe uncomfortable idea thatStar Wars’Jedi are just not that interestingto some sections of the audience. This isn’t a particularly new or controversial thing, as the wealth of content focused on politicians, soldiers and even criminals at large in theStar Warsuniverse that existed prior to Disney wiping the slate clean attest to this.
Star Wars: The Acolyte’scancellation is a bad sign for several reasons, as the project was a departure from anything that’s come in the franchise. For all its faults, there was a genuine sense of novelty to the show that could have very well been refined in further seasons and potentially inspired a more diverse range of approaches toStar Warsprojects. WhileStar Warsshows likeThe MandalorianandAndormanaged to broaden the landscape in similar fashion and to better effect, the dissolution of even one unique project can dampen the creativity of future creatives looking to bring different ideas to the grand space opera. At least, throughWayseeker,those that did enjoy the show can get some extra closure.
