Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte series will explore an unexplored area of the Star Wars universe. The Disney+ show is very different from the other Star Wars projects and is even set 100 years before the events of The Prequel Trilogy. Interestingly, Headland intentionally hired a writer in the room who was not a Star Wars fan to have different perspectives on the show.
Recently after The Acolyte trailer was released, the fandom has seen a buzz surrounding the Star Wars mystery-thriller special. The show, set in the final days of the High Republic era, focuses on a Jedi master’s investigation of a series of murders across the galaxy by a dangerous assassin.
Why did Leslye Headland want a non-Star Wars fan on The Acolyte production?
In big franchise projects like Marvel or Star Wars, fans often want the cast and crew to be passionate supporters of their beloved franchise. The attachment with the source material often results in better quality projects. However, we have also seen exceptions like Tony Gilroy who delivered some of the best Star Wars work in the shape of Rogue One and Andor without being a lifelong fan of the franchise.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Leslye Headland talked more about her take on The Acolyte and why she chose to hire a non-Star Wars fan in the writer’s room. According to the Russian Doll co-creator, she wanted to have different perspectives on board. She wanted someone who could question the narrative and provide a fresh approach to the table.
“She said to me, ‘Why do you want me in this room? I’ve never seen StarWars. I have no idea. I think there’s a dog in it, but I don’t know anything.’ And I was like, ‘First of all, you’re an incredible writer, but that’s why I want you here. I want you to be questioning narrative. I don’t want myself, who’s a lifelong fan, to just be relying on particular references in order to create emotional beats. I want those emotional beats to be earned and checked by someone that isn’t super familiar with it.'”
Earlier, she also reported in an interview with The AV Club that non-Star Wars fans were necessary to generate conversation in the room. Even though the writer later checked out the works, Leslye Headland revealed it was an unusual and fun experience to work with her. Several fans of the franchise have also agreed that taking varied perspectives from outside of the franchise can be a fruitful move for the Amandla Stenberg show.
The Acolyte will be very different from other Star Wars projects
Leslye Headland also added that several new elements will be introduced in the Star Wars universe with The Acolyte. While everybody thought Andor provided an exciting take on the franchise, the updates regarding the Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae show are very hopeful. Headland revealed that the show will be inspired by films like Rashomon.
“We were obviously influenced by samurai films and wuxia films, but also films like Rashomon, where you see one story and then you see it done a different way. So, what separates [Star Wars: The Acolyte] from some of the other Star Wars series is that it’s told in that particular way”
The Rashomon effect is a very famous thriller trope where the same story is shown from different perspectives. If it is used cleverly, the series may be different than everything we have seen in the Star Wars universe yet.
The Acolyte is also set in a time frame which is never explored in the Star Wars projects yet. Some references and Easter eggs to other Star Wars projects will be there but the fans will get to witness several new elements. She highlighted the line from the trailer- “This isn’t about good or bad; this is about power and who is allowed to use it” and noted that there will be moral ambiguity among the characters.
The Acolyte will premiere on Disney+ on June 4, 2024.
