The Acolyte was heavily criticized for several aspects of its narrative. However, one thing Star Wars fans unanimously agreed upon was the characterization and portrayal of Qimir / The Stranger played by Manny Jacinto, who emerged as a fan-favorite. The latter episodes positioned Qimir as a thirst trap.
During an interview, creator Leslye Headland spoke about making the character a s*x symbol. At the same time, she revealed what prompted the physically attractive and sensual depiction. Here is what Headland had to say about making Jacinto’s character a true s*x symbol in The Acolyte.
Leslye Headland Discussed Flipping Gender Tropes in Star Wars With Qimir in The Acolyte
Actor Manny Jacinto played the role of Qimir / The Stranger in The Acolyte, with the character becoming the ultimate thirst trap for Star Wars fans. Initially introduced as a smuggler, Qimir is revealed to be the mysterious Sith Lord training Mae.
Later, Qimir tries to seduce Osha to the dark side, with episodes showing off Jacinto’s impressive physique. During a conversation with GQ, creator Leslye Headland opened up about portraying the sensual and s**y side of the character.
The Stranger flips classic gender tropes of hypersexualization. But a true s*x symbol is someone who resonates emotionally with fans. Manny’s magnetism is rooted in his acting, not just his physique.
Headland made the above statement, explaining her reasoning behind making the character of The Stranger a s*x symbol.
However, Headland added that the character’s sensuality stemmed from Jacinto tapping into emotions such as vulnerability, empathy, and longing, resulting in a nuanced and compelling performance that did not simply rely on the actor’s physical appearance.
Manny Jacinto Talked About Asian-American Representation in Star Wars
During the same interview, Jacinto also spoke about his character in the series, especially what it meant for him to be a Star Wars fan. Jacinto revealed that he watched the franchise’s films as a child alongside his parents.
While he admired them from afar, the films did not resonate with him primarily since there was a lack of Asian-American representation in them. As a result, Jacinto admitted that he did not see himself appearing in the franchise.
However, the actor revealed that the diverse cast of The Acolyte would help inspire even more people of color to feel represented in the galaxy far, far away. He said:
Even more people of color will be able to relate to and celebrate and see themselves in this entity that is Star Wars.
From Jacinto’s words, it is evident that Asian-American representation attracted him to the role of The Stranger in the Star Wars series. As a result, it was important that the character was more than just a thirst trap for fans and had a deeper emotional resonance with the viewers.
The Acolyte is streaming on Disney+.
