The Acolyte is the latest offering from the Star Wars universe, a series created by Leslie Headland for Disney+. It’s a mystery-thriller that delves into the dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era, set several centuries before the events of the Skywalker saga.
And now as the series races towards the end of its first season with just three episodes remaining, showrunner Headland has hinted at a rather depressing possibility of the show not getting a second season. Throughout its debut season, the show has garnered a diverse range of reviews, sparking curiosity and speculation among its audience from the very start.
Will The Acolyte Get a Second Season?
With only three episodes remaining in its current season, The Acolyte continues its journey amidst uncertainty about a potential second season.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Leslye Headland acknowledged the speculation but stressed her complete focus was to shape the first season of the show perfectly. She said,
I’ll tell you my philosophy on first seasons. Something that I’ve noticed is first seasons will end on what should have been the break into act two, It feels like everyone’s really expecting to get a second season, and I don’t feel that’s a good idea. I think you should put everything you can into the first season and give the audience a nice resolution that feels satisfying, but enough nods to mysteries that you would want to see a second season.
However, based on her statements about how she envisions the ending, it appears that she is indeed hoping for the show to be renewed for another season however she is not entirely sure. As she explained,
You don’t want to leave it so wrapped up that, like Obi-Wan or a standalone mini-series, that there’s no reason to watch a second season, but I think there’s enough stuff in the last few episodes that you would want to have answered
There’s no official confirmation for a second season yet, so there’s a very real chance the show might not return. However, Headland appears prepared to continue telling more stories, suggesting she’s eager for the opportunity.
Reviews of The Acolyte So Far…
The Acolyte premiered on Disney+ on June 4 to decent critical acclaim, hovering around the 80+ percent range on the Tomatometer. However, in the following weeks, the audience score drastically dropped to about 13 or 14 percent, sparking reports of review-bombing with negative audience reviews. This backlash isn’t new for the Star Wars franchise, which has seen similar waves of criticism in the past, even toward projects that are now beloved.
However, while The Acolyte is not considered bad, it also doesn’t quite reach the heights of greatness or something extraordinary. It occupies a middle ground where it is generally solid but doesn’t leave a lasting impact.
Occasionally, certain episodes, such as Episode 5, manage to stir some intrigue and capture the audience’s attention to a notable degree. Overall, the series has received a mixed reception, with critics acknowledging its competence but not necessarily lauding it as a standout in the genre. Although fans are eager to find out the things that will unravel in the last three episodes.
The Acolyte is streaming on Disney+
