The Disney-acquired Star Wars live-action lore is unarguably really trying to tighten its grip around the fandom. However, that doesn’t seem to be working, considering fans’ reaction to its latest and upcoming series, with very few series and fans as an exception. Even The Acolyte, which is the next series lined up for release this year from the saga, is ceasing to amuse fans.
This stands true because, even before its final release, this soon-to-hit-streaming series has gained massive criticism from fans because of all the changes it will be bringing to the previously massively fan-favorite lore. What’s worse is that this criticism doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, considering how Jimmy Kimmel recently added even more misery to this project with his roasting.
The Acolyte Recently Got Brutally Roasted by Jimmy Kimmel
While not appealing to fans is one thing, even comedian Jimmy Kimmel seems to be unimpressed with how things are turning out for the Star Wars universe. This was evident during the recently held Disney Upfronts, where the talk show host didn’t hold back at all while sharing the stage.
As reported by Variety, here’s what he said about this particular upcoming SW project:
“We’ve got the most highly anticipated shows with ‘The Acolyte,’ about a Jedi investigating crimes.”
A brief bit of the backstory here: This Dafne Keen-starrer is set around 100 years before The Phantom Menace even happened, and foretells the story of the final days of the High Republic.
That being said, Kimmel didn’t hesitate to troll this very feature of the series as he said:
“The show is set during the High Republic era of the Star Wars timeline, which means it takes place before the ‘Phantom Menace’ and after I stopped giving a shit.”
Okay, ouch. That must hurt, Disney.
However, while Kimmel is one to criticize it like this, he isn’t the only one. If anything, a considerable amount of fans from all around the globe are not happy with how Disney is taming the SW lore and have been unhesitantly complaining about it ever since, even before the release of this series.
Fans are Criticising The Acolyte for One Too Many Reasons
Although many of them are still trying their best to be optimistic about it, one other part of the divided Star Wars fandom isn’t hesitating to let Disney know just how disappointed it is with how the series of events is turning out to be for the franchise George Lucas established for them.
For instance, they aren’t happy with how showrunner Leslye Headland, who is a lesbian herself, has taken the queer approach with the characters of the series (she herself admitted that her queerness affected the project in an interview with The Advocate).
Then there were all of their unimpressed reviews on the leaked set images of this upcoming show, which made it evident that this section of the fandom is anything but excited about this soon-to-be-released Amandla Stenberg-starrer Disney series.
All in all, here are a few of their reactions to the same on X:
Do you even know what is going on at Disney?
This show is for people who don't watch Star Wars and at the same time insult those who do.— Dan's Universe (@DansUniverse1) November 25, 2023
They tread dangerous ground. If this ends up being The Eternals for Star Wars, there will be no coming back from it.
— Bob Barker (@Capt_Barker) November 26, 2023
“And in this episode of Russian Dolls, we …”
— Matt Rissman (@Risster) May 8, 2024
Looks like Disney’s new Star Wars “The Acolyte” is set to crash and burn.
Oh boy, should be fun to watch Disney get their asses handed to them again.
#GoWokeGoBroke pic.twitter.com/IF3FLAKT4p
— Red (@CrimsonRedRiver) March 21, 2024
This looks like cringy fan-fiction with crappy cosplay
— Jerm (@BigBirdJerm) March 19, 2024
Trash. ^_^
Non-canon in my book. To me, anything Star Wars post-Disney is non-canon and takes place in an alternate timeline. Even the characters from it that I like.Sorry, not sorry. I said what I said.
— Jurien St. Gaius (@JurienGaius) March 19, 2024
It's not Star Wars
— lukeskywing (@lukeskywing) March 19, 2024
It'll be forgettable and forgotten
— The Autonomous one (@J__Leee) March 19, 2024
More likely its gonna be the end of star wars.. Not looking promising!
— FpK (@FpKH2k) March 6, 2024
Inevitably enough, things aren’t looking too good for Headland’s upcoming project for George Lucas’ space opera saga and just might continue to look this way if the second season of Andor and more projects like the same don’t hit the screens anytime soon.
What is The Acolyte All About, Anyways?
For those who still may not know about it, the Lee Jung-jae-starrer series will reportedly be a prequel to the entire SW lore witnessed to date and will encompass the world of the Jedis and the High Republic in its final days, as shared above.
For a greater understanding of how it would turn out to be, read the show’s official description (via StarWars.com):
“An investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master against a dangerous warrior from his past. As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…”
While its description more or less doesn’t make it seem like it would be anything other than a Star Wars series, fans’ worries and opinions are still as valid as ever.
Nonetheless, fans can still stream the series when it first premieres its first two episodes on Disney+ on the 4th of June, 2024.
