A new tie-in book for THE ACOLYTE reveals tons of facts about the show
Credit: Disney and Lucasfilm
The Disney+ series The Acolyte created by Leslye Headland, set in the Star Wars High Republic era, concluded with its eight-episode run on July 16, 2024, after executives canceled it, citing high production costs relative to its viewership performance.
The story was set roughly a hundred years before Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, centering around a series of shocking murders within the Jedi Order and the tragic history of twin sisters, Osha and Mae Aniseya portrayed by actress, musician, and activist Amandla Stendburg.
Over the course of the show’s run, The Acolyte became one of Disney and Lucasfilm’s most highly divisive Star Wars series to date, receiving excellent reviews from many critics but also facing significant backlash from portions of a fanbase that simply don’t understand this generation’s character diversity.
Yoda in ‘The Acolyte’ just a few decades before the fall of the Jedi. Photo: Lucasfilm
Today, fans who’ve stood by the series got a glimpse into what might have been with the release of Abrams Books The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte by Kristin Baver via Collider, which revealed that the finale was originally going to include an additional scene that would have better explained the shady actions of Vernestra Rwoh, played by actress Rebecca Henderson.
In the finale, fans saw Vernestra seeking the counsel of Master Yoda with very few words spoken and only the back of the Jedi Master’s head shown before fading out to the end credits sequence. However, details from the book show a much clearer image surrounding that scene that took it one step further in contextualizing her decision to protect the Jedi Order by placing blame elsewhere. The scene was, in fact, fully scripted, shot, and edited before being removed during post-production.
“The deleted moment would have shown Vernestra exiting the Senate hearing and confronting the looming presence of the Galactic Senate Building on Coruscant — a visual meant to underscore the political reality she was stepping into. ‘There was a moment where I think you understood Vernestra’s choice to betray Sol,’ showrunner Leslye Headland explained. ‘As she left the tribunal, the scene included a line from Senator Rayencourt: “Welcome to the world of politics.”‘”
Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh’s development in The Acolyte is intentional, showcasing a tragic arc of sacrifice and evolution. Photo: Lucasfilm
Headland went on to explain why the scene was cut from the finale.
“As we were cutting things together, it did seem a little odd to end Vernestra’s story but then come back to her talking to Yoda,” she said. “It didn’t work in the edit, but it’s just one of those things that I really miss. I’m so sad we had to cut this. It was a good one.”
The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte also confirmed that the shadowy figure seen briefly in the series finale was actually the iconic Sith Lord Darth Plagueis, who was apparently going to serve as more of a lurking “larger threat,” becoming a major villain in future episodes while watching over Qimir and Osha with a special interest in their potential and creation.
The book takes readers on a deep dive into the character and what might have been, with Headland sharing key details about the plans for future seasons, bringing the Sith lineage full circle by introducing Sheev Palpatine’s future Sith master.
“I had always wanted the end of the season to introduce Plagueis. Having him come in the middle felt like it was going to be too loaded. So we decided to establish the era, the main characters, and the storyline, and then put Plagueis in as the larger threat,” Headland said.
While many had assumed the mystery character was Plagueis, it was never outright confirmed within The Acolyte‘s run until now. Sadly, the show left us with only a single cameo, teasing a much greater arc. But hopefully, this new information will provide closure to those who were interested in his character.
First live-action look at the infamous Darth Plagueis, creeping in the shadows on the mystery island, obviously as Qimir’s master who molded him in the ways of the Sith. Photo: Lucasfilm
Acolyte showrunner Headland stated via ScreenRant that the introduction of Plagueis was inspired by the Gollum-style reveal in The Lord of the Rings. Industrial Light & Magic reportedly perfected the design on the first try.
“In contrast to the extensive exploration of the Stranger, Plagueis’s design was straightforward. Heavily influenced by the character’s established presence in publishing and other Muuns in live-action and animation, Industrial Light & Magic nearly perfected the design on the first try.”
“From the first iteration, when we showed it to Leslye, she cried,” said Carlos Ciudad. “She literally said, ‘This is exactly what I had in my head. You just made my dreams [a reality].’ If there’s anything that reminds me how lucky I am to have this job, it’s being able to make somebody cry out of happiness by bringing a character to life that she loves. It’s a reminder that what we do is very special.”
“Before we even designed anything, I knew I wanted to do what they did with Gollum in The Fellowship of the Ring, where you get a sense of this character, the size of the eyes and his coloring, but I didn’t want to do something in full-on daylight. When you see his hand move, with your point of view being the main characters, it feels like you know about the threat before the main characters do.”
Darth Plagueis is shown in ‘The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte’, although very little is shared, it does include a 3D model of his head made by Saby Menyhei, which offers a more detailed look at his design. Photo courtesy of TheArtBookCollector.
The new art book of The Acolyte also contains numerous other Easter eggs connecting the series to the broader Star Wars universe. If you really want to dive into the details surrounding The Acolyte, head on over to The Holofiles for a more in-depth look. It’s definitely worth your time.
Before you consider adding the book to your shelf, make sure you check out Season 1 of The Acolyte exclusively on Disney+.
Those interested can order The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte here. Don’t miss it!
May the Force be with You….
Next Level Media Plus | Outerworld and StarWarsGalaxyNews 
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