Interview with Acolyte Showrunner on Surprising Dark Turn

Fans who were taken aback by the violence depicted in The Acolyte Episode 5 can take comfort in knowing that they’re not alone. The cast and crew of the Star Wars series were just as caught off guard by it.

The Acolyte has garnered controversy among fans for its handling of various elements, such as the portrayal of the Nightsisters and the handling of Jedi Master Indara’s murder.

Despite its controversy, the latest episode will be remembered for its extreme violence, surpassing all expectations for a Star Wars installment.

Be warned, The Acolyte spoilers ahead.

The master's helmet in The Acolyte — Lucasfilm/Disney

During the ensuing battle, it is revealed that the Stranger is actually the smuggler Qimir, and he proceeds to mercilessly kill most of the characters in the series. Among the casualties are Sol’s apprentice, Jecki Lon, who is repeatedly stabbed with a lightsaber, and the Jedi Knight Yord Fandar, whose neck is violently snapped.

Leslye Headland, the showrunner for Acolyte, was surprised by the level of darkness they were able to incorporate. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she expressed her belief that it would not have been allowed.

Headland stated that he had expected someone to intervene and stop him, but to his surprise, no one did. He had assumed that someone would speak up and say, “This is too far!”but that did not happen.

The cast was taken aback, as actress Amandla Stenberg expressed, “We were all surprised by the brutality in which Leslye removes the characters.”Headland made a joke, saying, “I suppose I always saw it as similar to when Anakin killed a group of children…”

Despite its reputation for action-packed lightsaber duels and intense blaster fights, Star Wars has long been recognized as a family-friendly franchise. Therefore, the recent decision to incorporate more violent imagery may come as a surprise to many fans.

Modern Star Wars has taken even more measures to prevent excessive violence. For instance, in the 1996 re-release of A New Hope, the blood was removed from Ponda Baba’s severed arm. This change was made because George Lucas had already determined that a lightsaber would instantly cauterize any wounds.

The contemporary era of Star Wars has explored the use of violence more extensively, although scenes such as Kylo Ren’s killing of Han Solo were predominantly hidden from the viewer, with the majority of the injuries occurring off-screen. Additionally, although Anakin’s massacre of the Younglings is a notorious Star Wars scene, the actual act is never explicitly shown, only implied.

However, The Acolyte showed no mercy. The Stranger mercilessly wields a lightsaber, cutting down Jedi and utilizing the Force with ruthless effectiveness. He even goes to the extreme of using the Force to impale a Jedi onto his already occupied lightsaber.

The developments in Episode 5 have raised expectations for the rest of the season, but the enigmas it introduces – such as Osha and Mae’s switch and foreshadows of a potential betrayal from Sol – give the impression that there could be further unexpected twists ahead.

The Acolyte releases new episodes every Tuesday on Disney+. For those seeking additional Star Wars content, you can find details about the release date for Andor Season 2 and Tales of the Jedi Season 2, or browse through the new movies and TV shows available for streaming this month.