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July has come to an end, which means it's time to look ahead to the new month's Star Wars books and comics.

August has a little bit of everything for everyone. Although there are no new ongoing series starting, there are still some highlights.

I'm hyped for the new novel from The Bad Batch called Sanctuary, which takes place during season 2 as Clone Force 99 tries to save their island home of Pabu. Polygon shared an excerpt with one of my favorite ships, Tech and Phee Genoa, that basically made me lose my mind a bit. We're also starting to get early Spooky Season content with I Find Your Lack of Candy Disturbing out right at the start of the month, being one of the first Halloween-themed books to be released.

With comics, trades, novels, and magazines, August will not disappoint.

Star Wars books and comics releasing in August 2025

August 5, 2025

Sanctuary:...

Mathilde Dratwa’s play A Play About David Mamet Writing a Play About Harvey Weinstein debuted in a one-night reading that benefited the Nyclu. The evening, which was held at Playwrights Horizons, raised $15,000. Directed by Leslye Headland, the four-person cast featured Abbi Jacobson, Heléne Yorke, Billy Eichner and Paige Gilbert (who filled in last minute for Kara Young), and was produced by George Strus of Benson Drive Productions, Rachel Sussman of Soto Productions, and Isabelle Mann of Funroe Productions. Audience members included playwrights Hansol Jung, Heidi Schreck, Sanaz Toosi, and Whitney White (who all had audience cameos), along with Busy Phillips, Jodi Balfour, Jen Tullock, Jackie Siblies Drury, Jocelyn Bioh, Ngozi Anyanwu, Meghan Kennedy, Rebecca Henderson, Kaki King and more. Photo credit: Michael Kushner <img alt="" height="467" src="https://cloudimages.broadwayworld.com/upload13/2381066/tn-500_abbijacobson.jpg"...

The Acolyte generated such hype when the first trailers were released. We were all excited to see Carrie-Anne Moss back in action—even if her role was far smaller than we were led to believe—and the show looked to promise intrigue, action, and a deeper dive into some of Star Wars' less explored lore.

But, The Acolyte fell flat. Even with relatively decent critical acclaim, fans didn't like it. While Rotten Tomatoes is far from perfect, this discrepancy is apparent: critics gave it a surprisingly high 79% approval rating, while fans gave it an abysmally low 19% approval rating.

Despite the lower ratings, many fans stand strong in defense of the show.

So, what went wrong? The action scenes were chaotic and well-choreographed, and from this writer's perhaps not-so-humble point of view, the casting was spot on. Amandla Stenberg as Mae and Osha had me believing she was two people. Lee Jung-jae...

Star Wars: The Acolyte: Wayseeker by Justina Ireland acts as a bridge between The High Republic publishing initiative and The Acolyte. Through its connections to both of these stories, Wayseeker is both a High Republic epilogue and an Acolyte prequel.

The novel is set about 20 years before the events of the Disney+ show and primarily focuses on Jedi Knights Vernestra Rwoh and Indara, who must work together to prevent the spread of a dangerous weapon. As indicated by the title, Vernestra has become a Wayseeker, which is a Jedi who can operate independently and without being overseen by the Jedi High Council.

Being a Wayseeker is an ideal position for a Jedi like Vernestra who wants to go out into the galaxy, follow the Force, and help those in need without having to deal with unnecessary bureaucracy. By the time Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Jedi Padawan, the Wayseeker role no longer exists,...

Star Wars (via an official visual guide) revealed interesting new details about Qimir (Manny Jacinto), the main villain of The Acolyte series on Disney+. Qimir, also known as The Stranger, made his presence felt in The Acolyte after he wielded his red lightsaber and started killing several Jedi on the planet of Khofar. While he was initially introduced as Mae Aniseya's (Amandla Stenberg) friend and incompetent sidekick, the reveal that Qimir is a Dark Force user led to many questions about his origins. 

Created and directed by Leslye Headland for Disney+, The Acolyte follows the story of a past Padawan who reunites with his former Jedi Master during the High Republic era. They investigate a series of crimes that lead them to uncover a sinister secret tied to the Dark Side of the Force. The Acolyte's cast includes Lee Jung-jae, Amandla Stenberg, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett,...

With every passing year, the Star Wars timeline sprawls further outwards – and the galaxy far, far away shows no sign of slowing down. Even the most hardcore fan might not be able to tell you exactly how the three film trilogies intersect with the spread of animated series, live-action streaming shows, canonical videogames, spin-off movies, publishing eras, and more. But don’t let that put you off – there really is a Star War for everyone at this point, and Empire is here to help you work out exactly when each part of the story is set.

To keep things simple, we’re breaking down all the big stuff in order – every film, series, and need-to-know era, including a handful of stories that haven’t even reached us yet. We’re making it easy for you, so all you need to know is that ‘Bby’ and ‘Aby’ mean ‘Before the Battle...

The Hunting Party concluded its final season at the end of April, and NBC has finally decided on the future of the series. The network has ruled that The Hunting Party, which is streaming on Peacock, has been renewed and will receive a second season. The Hunting Party premiered alongside other shows such as original dramas Suits: LA and Grosse Pointe Garden Society, and it was the strongest performer of the bunch, which was enough to earn it another season. The Hunting Party debuted with a shocking 0% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and it finished its first season with an 18% but an 81% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. After receiving only 10 episodes in Season 1, The Hunting Party Season 2 will move to an 18-22-episode season, and it's expected to be released later this year or early 2026.

Melissa Roxburgh stars in the lead role of Rebecca Henderson in The Hunting Party.

The Acolyte may have been cancelled after only one season on Disney+, but the story will continue through various novels and short stories. One of which comes in the form of The Acolyte: Wayseeker, which is set decades before the events of the Star Wars Disney+ series and follows Vernestra Rwoh as she rediscovers her place in the Jedi Order. Collider is elated to partner with Lucasfilm Publishing to unveil a new excerpt from The Acolyte: Wayseeker, which sees Jedi Master Indara dispatched by the Jedi Council to find Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh. However, during her mission, she encounters the legendary Wayseeker. The Acolyte: Wayseeker was written by Justina Ireland, and the book will go up for sale on May 6.

The live-action counterpart of Jedi Master Indara is portrayed by The Matrix veteran Carrie-Anne Moss, with Rebecca Henderson playing Vernestra Rwoh. The Acolyte features a star-studded ensemble to bring the...

“I think addiction is the best way to describe being stuck in a sin,” explains Cult of Love author Leslye Headland, “because I don't see sin as like a transgression. I see sin as something that you are living, that you are stuck in.” The playwright recently made her Broadway debut with this sharp comedy, the final script in her Seven Deadly Plays series.

Cult of Love sucks audiences into a Christmas gathering from hell. The adult children of the Dahl family gather at their parents home for holiday celebrations, folk songs, and the airing of grievances. The playwright admits she was inspired by aspects of her own life, but the family is entirely fictional. “It's taking my family, and extended family, and putting them in a blender,” Headland tells Gold Derby, “creating characters that are important for the play rather than shoehorning the play into my own experience.”

Explosive...

The Acolyte, also known as Star Wars: The Acolyte, is one of the Disney+ TV series set in the Star Wars franchise. The series premiered in 2024 with strong reviews, but it was soon plagued by criticism and became the subject of review bombing and accusations of "woke" culture.

Even with its cancelation, the actors have continued to voice their support for the series. The series faced an extensive fan campaign for its diversity, and Disney eventually canceled the series. Following a new Collider article highlighting the demand for The Acolyte Season 2, star Rebecca Henderson further voiced her support for the sci-fi show on Instagram Stories.

The Acolyte star Rebecca Henderson voices support for the show after a new report suggests demand for Season 2 is high“The Acolyte has been a massive hit for Disney+. It was canceled because Iykyk but the fans love it and we love you â¤ï¸ðŸ˜˜â€ pic.

The Acolyte is one of the newest additions to the Star Wars franchise, but many consider it one of the weakest entries. Despite Disney investing around $160 million in its production, the show fell short of expectations. Low viewership led to its cancellation after just 8 episodes. Some blame issues like racism and misogyny for its downfall, depending on who you ask.

Several petitions have been launched to renew the show for a second season and bring it back to life, but Disney has remained silent on the matter. However, new data suggests that interest in the series may be even higher than previously anticipated.

Parrot Analytics, which measures content demand through audience interactions, streaming viewership, and social media engagement, places The Acolyte among the top-performing Star Wars series, behind only The Mandalorian and Skeleton Crew. This level of demand places it in the top 2.7% of shows, a strong indicator of sustained audience interest.

One of the most (if not the most) controversial Star Wars stories is proving to be surprisingly popular despite its sudden cancelation. Beginning in June last year, the Star Wars prequel series The Acolyte proved to be another deeply divisive adventure in a galaxy far, far away. But, while the series has now been canceled by Disney, a new report reveals that the cries from fans for The Acolyte Season 2 are louder than anyone would have expected.

According to Parrot Analytics, who study viewing metrics, streaming data, and more, calls for The Acolyte Season 2 are “20.8 times the average,” which they conclude “stands as a compelling candidate for further investment and development.” Despite a slight drop in demand from fans (dipping from a previous high of 22.6 times the average), The Acolyte “remains exceptionally rated within the drama genre at the 99.3rd percentile,” which they believe “indicates a high loyalty and engagement level from a dedicated audience,...

The Acolyteis showing plenty of streaming demand months after the series was cancelled by Lucasfilm. According to Parrot Analytics, the story starring Amandla Stenbergas two different protagonists is currently listed at scoring more than twenty times the average demand seen in the current streaming landscape. This is a rare statistic obtained only by shows that become very popular with audiences after release, meaning that viewers can't get enough of The Acolyte. It's been more than six months since Lucasfilm announced they wouldn't be moving forward with a second installment of the show. Nevertheless, audiences are still showing support from this corner of the galaxy far, far away.

The Acolyte follows Osha Aniseya (portrayed by Stenberg), a former Jedi padawan who left the Order due to an internal conflict she had with the Force. Osha is eventually reunited with her sister, Mae (also portrayed by Amandla Stenberg). The two young women...

After opening with an imperfect 0% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes,The Hunting Party has picked things up a bit and managed to improve its score to an 18%, but the show has been a bigger hit among fans, who approve at a solid 75% clip. The Hunting PartyEpisode 6 is set to premiere tonight, and it will follow Rebecca Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh) and her team on the hunt for Arlo Brandt, a hoarder-turned-serial killer who is preying on innocent victims. Collider is thrilled to partner with NBC and Peacock to deliver an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming episode, showing the team infiltrating Arlo's shop and speaking to his wife, who seems unaware of his deviant activities. In order to find him, the team must get inside his mind and think like he does.

The Acolyte was not long for this world, as the Star Wars series was canceled at Disney+ after a single season. While that was obviously not the best news for the show's cast and crew, Dafne Keen still sees the positive side of her involvement with the short-lived series.

In The Acolyte, Keen played Jecki Lon, a Jedi Padawan who meets an unfortunate end before the end of the season. Per Screen Rant, Keen commented on the show getting canceled while at the Saturn Awards. While she admitted that it was difficult news for the team to hear, she is nevertheless happy to have been a part of the show's brief run. Pplaying Jecki still gave Keen a chance to play a Jedi on-screen, which was a bucket list item she's now able to tick off while still rather early into her acting career.

RelatedSigourney Weaver Addresses Her Star Wars Movie Role,...

Last August, we got word that Lucasfilm/Disney had decided not to movie forward with a second season of The Acolyte despite several major storylines and character arcs being left unresolved by the end of the season 1 finale - including the introduction of Darth Plagueis.

The decision was met with a mixture of indifference and disappointment, but it seemed very clear that a lot of Star Wars fans - and some of the actors involved with the show - were surprised by this development.

Showrunner Leslye Headland was hoping to be able to continue her High Republic era-set tale, and rumor has it that the studio was planning a second season up until fairly recently.

Despite speculation that the negative backlash from many Star Wars fans contributed to the show being canned, reports emerged that The Acolyte was cancelled because it didn't get enough viewers, plain and simple.

However, a...

The past year of Leslye Headland’s work has been a love letter to her teenage self.

The multitalented screenwriter-director-showrunner-playwright is on the eve of closing her acclaimed Broadway debut “Cult of Love,” a project she jumped headfirst into after finishing the edit on her 2024 Disney+ Star Wars series “The Acolyte.”

“Broadway is a big deal. And I would say to 13-year-old Leslye, to do a Star Wars story then Broadway? It’s mind blowing,” Headland recently shared with Variety.

The “Russian Doll” co-creator’s upbringing is top of mind in “Cult of Love,” which was originally staged at the Berkeley Rep. The relentless dramedy about the deterioration of a religious family on Christmas Eve – which bagged Zachary Quinto, Shailene Woodley and Headland’s spouse Rebecca Henderson for its New York run – is inspired by its author’s own childhood and relationship with faith.

The play (which was explored in...

The Hunting Party just premiered on NBC, so is this new thriller worth watching?

Caution: This article contains Spoilers for The Hunting Party Episode 1

NBC pulled a surprise move by announcing that the new thriller The Hunting Party would premiere on Sunday, Jan. 19 rather than Monday, Feb. 3. It appeared the network wanted to capitalize on viewers watching the Philadelphia Eagles/Los Angeles Rams playoff game.

It was a good way to get viewers on this series, which opened with a literal bang. We’re introduced to The Pit, an underground prison kept in an abandoned nuclear silo. Without warning, a massive explosion blows the place apart with two guards who had just ended their shift knocked off the road by the blast.

Meet the characters in The Hunting Party

Cut to Rebecca “Bex” Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh), a former FBI profiler who now works security at a casino. Her days of...

NBC is putting viewers on The Hunting Party earlier than expected! Find out when the new thriller now airs!

With the winter break done, it’s time for the networks to get going again with new episodes. That includes the typical midseason series, which means a few new shows will be launched.

The Hunting Party is among them, as NBC had scheduled the new thriller to premiere Monday, Feb. 3, at 10/9c. However, per Deadline, the show will now premiere on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 7/6c on NBC. It’ll then be available to stream on Peacock the next day.

Why has NBC moved up the premiere date of The Hunting Party?

The reason for the change is that Sunday will have NBC airing a highly anticipated NFL divisional playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams. That game will start at 3/2c and be followed by the nightly news.

The Hunting Party Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson, Patrick Sabongui as Jacob Hassani — (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC) When a high-security prison is rocked by a dramatic explosion, the country’s most dangerous criminals vanish without a trace. Each one is more than a fugitive—they’re masterminds with deadly plans already in motion. Now, it’s up to a former profiler, known for her razor-sharp instincts, to lead a team of experts—a mix of soldiers, spies, and agents—on a relentless search to track them down. With every passing moment, the stakes rise as the escapees remain one step ahead, leaving chaos in their wake. This is more than a manhunt. It’s a race against time, where split-second decisions could mean the difference between justice and destruction. Will the hunters bring them to justice, or will the tables turn?

The Hunting Party, Monday premiers February 3rd at 10/9c on NBC.

Following stand-out turns in Netflix's Squid Game and Disney+'s The Acolyte, South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae might be set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

According to scooper Mttsh, Jung-jae is in talks for an undisclosed MCU role.

We don't have any details on who he might be in line to play, but there's a chance it isn't any one specific hero or villain. Kevin Feige has been known to reach out to actors he's keen to work with without having a particular character in mind, and it's also possible that Jung-jae was given a choice of several different roles.

This isn't actually the first time the actor has been rumored for a Marvel part, as there was some talk of him being in negotiations to play Mr. Negative in Sony's Ssu last year.

The Acolyte proved to be one of Lucasfilm's more divisive Star Wars shows,...

Manifest‘s Melissa Roxburgh stars in NBC’s new midseason crime drama The Hunting Party. Debuting on February 3, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt, the new series finds Roxburgh leading a team who’ve been charged with finding escaped murderers.

Season one also stars Nick Wechsler (Shades of Blue) as Oliver Odell, Patrick Sabongui (The Flash) as Ryan Hassani, Josh McKenzie (La Brea) as Shane Florence, and Sara Garcia (Ride) as Jennifer Morales. JJ Bailey created the series and serves as a writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner with Jake Coburn.

Thor Freudenthal directs and executive produces, with Keto Shimizu writing and executive producing.

Poster for ‘The Hunting Party’ (Photo by: NBCUniversal)

NBC offers this description of the new series:

“This dynamic and suspenseful thrill ride of a crime procedural follows a small team of investigators led by former FBI profiler Rebecca ‘Bex’ Henderson (Roxburgh). They’ve been assembled to track down and...

An elite task force of investigators has its hands full when an off-the-books max-security prison sees a massive breach, leading to the escape of the most notorious convicts. In a first teaser for NBC’s forthcoming crime procedural, The Hunting Party, Melissa Roxburgh’s ex-fbi agent Rebecca Henderson must spearhead a search to round up the escaped criminals.

Set to a haunting rendition of Blondie’s “One Way Or Another,” the new look at the high-concept drama — due for release Feb. 3 with next-day streaming — previews “The Pit,” an underground panopticon-like hexagonal structure, described in a voiceover as a “a classified prison home to the most violent and dangerous criminals the world has ever known.”

Following a blast of mysterious origins, Rebecca (“Bex”) must track down the inmates, leading a team to uncover the origins of the explosion and the reasoning behind it. The jam-packed 30-second first-look...

The Hunting Party — “Brenda Lowe” Episode 103 — Pictured: Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson — (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC) Get ready for a heart-pounding new series on NBC! On Monday, February 3rd, tune in at 10/9c right after The Voice—for the gripping premiere of The Hunting Party. This intense crime procedural will have you hooked as it follows a skilled team of investigators racing to capture the world’s most dangerous escaped killers. The story kicks off with a major security breach at a top-secret government facility known as “The Pit.” When a group of deadly serial killers breaks free, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Leading the charge to bring them back is Rebecca “Bex” Henderson, a brilliant and fearless former FBI profiler portrayed by the Melissa Roxburgh (Manifest). But as Bex and her team dig deeper into the case, they uncover shocking secrets about “The Pit” that could change everything.

Shailene Woodley made her Broadway debut with a ton of celebs in the audience supporting her!

The Emmy-nominated actress took her opening night bow in the new play Cult of Love on Thursday night (December 12) at the Hayes Theater in New York City.

Shailene is starring in the play alongside Zachary Quinto, Barbie Ferreira, Chris Lowell, Molly Bernard, and more.

Here’s the play’s synopsis: “It’s the holiday season for the Dahl family! The four adult children return to their childhood home with partners in tow. The Dahl traditions include singing carols in harmony at the drop of a hat, but the gathering is anything but harmonious. Old conflicts resurface, new issues battled, and dinner is taking absolutely forever to be served. Will the love the Dahls have for each other be enough to get them through, or will this be their last Christmas together?”

Cult of Love...

It’s that time of year for the Dahls, the close-knit Christian family at the center of Leslye Headland’s bleak and biting new play Cult of Love. Christmas is their favorite holiday, an occasion for the four adult children (plus their spouses) to convene at the elder Dahls’ house and imbibe on batch Manhattans, gorge on dense confectionaries, stow away extra figgy pudding and sing carols exalting their Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

No matter that a handful of the Dahls are having a crisis of faith, that one might be losing their memory, that another is in active recovery from drug addiction and a third might be buckling under the weight of their mental health issues. The Dahls, in service of their own self-image, prefer to lie and deny.

Produced by Second Stage and now at The Helen Hayes theater in New York, Cult of Love (directed by...

Hilary Duff had a mother-son date night her oldest child Luca at the Cult of Love opening night on Thursday (December 12) at Hayes Theater in New York City.

The 37-year-old actress returned to the city, where she previously lived part-time while filming her show Younger.

Speaking of, Hilary attended the Broadway show’s opening night to support her best friend and Younger co-star Molly Bernard, who makes her Broadway debut in the new play!

Also among the cast of the show is Christopher Lowell, who co-starred with Hilary in Hulu’s How I Met Your Father!

In Cult of Love, “The four adult children return to their childhood home with partners in tow. The Dahl traditions include singing carols in harmony at the drop of a hat, but the gathering is anything but harmonious. Old conflicts resurface, new issues battled, and dinner is taking absolutely forever to be served. Will...

Almost five months after the series was unceremoniously cancelled, the cast of The Acolyte reunited to support showrunner Leslye Headland on her ongoing Broadway play. Released in 2024, the Disney+ Star Wars series takes place in the dying days of the High Republic and follows a former Jedi padawan, who becomes the suspect in a string of Jedi murders that leads to the unraveling of a hidden tragedy. The Acolyte featured an all-star cast led by Amandla Stenberg, Lee-Jung Jae, Manny Jacinto, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, and Jodie Turner-Smith.

Though the story may have ended early, the cast and crew of The Acolyte have remained supportive of one another. Following a recent performance of Headland's Cult of Love, Henderson, who plays Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh, shared a photo on Instagram alongside her wife, showrunner, Barnett, Keen, and Margarita Levieva outside the Hayes Theatre. Barnett and Keen, who played...

Jodie Turner-Smith reveals that she has "no regrets" about playing Mother Aniseya in the divisive Star Wars Disney+ series The Acolyte. The series has received harsh backlash from fans and critics despite topping the streaming charts. Even before its release, it was shrouded in hostile reception. Disney has decided not to renew The Acolyte for season 2.

Turner-Smith reflects on her experience starring in the Star Wars series while promoting The Agency in an interview with Collider. The star revealed that she "loved being in that universe" and she wouldn't hesitate to return if The Acolyte received another season. Turner-Smith further explained it had nothing to do with the content of the show, but because it was her "dream project." Check out what the actor said below:

Of course [I'd return]! First of all, I loved being in that universe, I had an incredible time doing that, and I loved it. No matter what,...

Back in August, we got word that Lucasfilm/Disney would not be moving forward with a second season of The Acolyte.

The decision was met with a mixture of indifference and disappointment, but it's very clear that a lot of Star Wars fans - and some of the actors involved with the show - were surprised by this development.

Despite some rumors to the contrary, reliable reports suggested that The Acolyte was cancelled because it didn't get enough viewers, plain and simple. However, it's difficult to disregard the possibility that the level of negativity surrounding the show did influence the studio's decision to at least some extent.

While speaking to Vanity Fair about season 2 of Squid Game, star Lee Jung-jae (Master Sol) reflected on the backlash the show received from certain fans, with some cast members being subjected to racist, homophobic and misogynistic abuse online.

“My feelings were hurt,” he admitted.

Star Wars: The Acolyte was a hit with critics, but the show was nevertheless subjected to heavy backlash on social media. In particular, there had been many negative comments made online about the diversity of the cast, and actor Lee Jung-jae can remember how hurtful it felt at the time.

In a new interview with Vanity Fair to promote the upcoming second season of Netflix's Squid Game, Lee reflected on the backlash against The Acolyte. While he found the racist comments to be hurtful, he especially felt for series showrunner Leslye Headland. Lee also said that while he knew going into the show that Star Wars has a passionate (and sometimes very vocal) fan base, he was still "shocked" by the levels of racist comments and online harassment that he'd witnessed.

Related Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 3 4K Uhd Clip Brings Grogu to Life in BTS Footage

Exclusive: A...

Although The Acolyte did wrap up certain plotlines during its first season, there was enough left unexplained that its cancellation was very frustrating for fans. One of those tidbits included the reveal of Darth Plagueis, the future master of Sheev Palpatine. Had the show returned for another season (or even more), The Acolyte star Manny Jacinto teased that we definitely would have seen more of Darth Plagueis.

While speaking at a panel at FanExpo San Francisco (via Collider), Jacinto was asked about his character’s connection to Darth Plagueis.

“Oh man, that’s a tough question. They’re not [connected], they’re definitely not. Oh man, how do I answer that? What time is it? [laughs] There are definitely a lot of different theories, like who he is, because we never actually know his true identity. Is Qimir’s name actually Qimir? We definitely wanted to explore it,” Jacinto explained. “There was...

In The Acolyte's season series finale, Manny Jacinto's Stranger offered Osha (Amandla Stenberg) one last chance to join him as they left his home. However, it was then we saw a shadowy figure in the cave they'd just been in watching them: Darth Plageuis.

We still don't know whether he's Qimir's secret Master, a rival Sith looking to eliminate a rival, or simply hiding out on a planet which we can now say is almost certainly meant to be Bal'demnic. 

What we do know, of course, is that he'll one day become Emperor Palpatine's Master, figuring out how to create life through the Force and perhaps even escape death. Is it possible that Plageuis and Qimir only want Osha to help the Sith Lord one day make Anakin Skywalker?

That and many other unanswered questions will now need to be answered in comic books or novels because The Acolyte...

The Acolyte proved to be one of Disney's most troubled Star Wars series. Although the series was not renewed, Manny Jacinto recently offered some insight into a potential second season.

"There was definitely going to be more of [Darth] Plagueis in the second, or if not, the third seasons of the show, but I just can't say, because, you know, we could come back," Jacinto, whose Sith Lord character pretended to be a smuggler named Qimir for most of the series, said during an appearance at FanExpo San Francisco via Collider. "I don't want to spoil anything, or give anybody any false hope, but I would just say there was a lot more to explore, for sure."

Related 'I was Quite Surprised': Lee Jung-jae Reacts to The Acolyte's Cancelation

Lee Jung-jae reacts to The Acolyte being canceled, and explains why he was excited to watch a second season.

When asked about...

Patrick Sabongui as Jacob Hassani and Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson in ‘The Hunting Party’ (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC)

NBC’s 2025 midseason lineup includes the series premieres of Suits LA starring Heels‘ Stephen Amell, The Hunting Party with Manifest‘s Melissa Roxburgh, and Grosse Pointe Garden Society starring AnnaSophia Robb. The midseason schedule also includes a new season of The Voice with Kelsea Ballerini, John Legend, Michael Bublé, and returning original coach Adam Levine.

The first season of Zachary Quinto’s Brilliant Minds picks up on January 6th, and Deal or No Deal Island season two kicks off on January 7th. January 2025 also marks the release of new episodes of The Irrational, Night Court, and St. Denis Medical, along with Law & Order, Svu, Found, Lopez vs. Lopez, and Happy’s Place.

NBC’s set a February 23, 2025 premiere date for the 10-part nature documentary series The Americas, narrated by Oscar winner Tom Hanks.

Quick Links The Acolyte Occurs Toward the End of the Era & Was More Focused on the Story Other High Republic Stories Feature Plenty of Exciting Characters Lucasfilm Has Into the High Republic Era

As the Star Wars franchise pushes forward, so does its blueprint. The story initially began with the original trilogy and the four-year-long Galactic Civil War. Then, George Lucas developed the prequel trilogy era, which took place over a longer period and introduced new corners of the Star Wars galaxy with a different aesthetic compared to the original trilogy. Over a decade later, Lucasfilm brought Star Wars back with the sequel trilogy, which takes place in an era that closely resembles the original trilogy with only slight differences. Expanded Universe explored other eras of Star Wars, like the Old Republic and the time before then, but when it comes to canon, there were mainly three eras storytellers could choose from.

The High Republic era of the "Star Wars" universe gave rise to many legendary Jedi that "Star Wars" fans have never heard of before, even as other legendary Jedi that everyone already knew passed through it. Master Yoda, for example, played a prominent role in the narrative, as did more than a few other members of the Jedi Council seen in "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace." Some of the most heroic and legendary Jedi of the era, however, were introduced in the novels, graphic novels, and audio books of the "Star Wars" High Republic initiative. Indeed, one of the most important and valiant Jedi in all of "Star Wars" might have been Stellan Gios, a human member of the Jedi Order who wielded a blue lightsaber blade that matched his eyes. Buw why was he so important?

Lucky for you, we've put together a list of the...

Star Wars: The High Republic: Tears of the Nameless by George Mann delivers satisfying payoff in an emotional and thrilling story. The story takes place after Temptation of the Force by Tessa Gratton, as Jedi Knight Reath Silas continues his research regarding the Nameless and the blight.

Reath has been one of my favorite characters in The High Republic since his introduction in Into the Dark by Claudia Gray. I enjoyed having him as a main point of view character again for the first time since Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older was released in February 2022. Reath is a remarkably insightful, innovative, and dedicated Jedi, but he is also a young man struggling with the enormous pressure that has been thrust upon him, along with his ongoing struggle of trying to understand why his Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus left him and the Jedi Order behind.

Tears of the Nameless fully...

Actors David Rasche and Mare Winningham have joined the previously announced production of Leslye Headland’s Cult of Love and a cast that includes Zachary Quinto, Shailene Woodley, Molly Bernard, Roberta Colindrez, Rebecca Henderson, Christopher Lowell, Christopher Sears, and Barbie Ferreira.

The Second Stage Theater production will be directed by Trip Cullman and begins previews November 20 at the Helen Hayes Theater, with an official opening on December 12.

Rasche and Winningham will play Bill and Ginny Dahl, the parents of a fractured family. The synopsis: “It’s the holiday season for the Dahl family! The four adult children return to their childhood home with partners in tow. The Dahl traditions include singing carols in harmony at the drop of a hat, but the gathering is anything but harmonious. Old conflicts resurface, new issues battled, and dinner is taking absolutely forever to be served.

Carrie-Anne Moss didn't last long in Star Wars: The Acolyte, as her character was killed off in a surprise twist at the very start. This allowed for her to say her goodbyes to Star Wars long before the show was officially canceled, so she wasn't too bothered when the news was broken.

In an interview with ComicBook.com, Moss explained how she's no stranger to seeing shows getting canceled, and by this point in her career, she's developed a "protection mechanism" by choosing not to get too invested in TV projects. She also pointed out how her own brief run on the show had already ended, so while she has love for everyone on the Acolyte team, it didn't have a big impact on her personally.

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Jodie Turner-Smith, who played Mother Aniseya in The Acolyte, has called out Disney for not doing enough to defend the cast - particularly Amandla Stenberg - when they were targetted for online abuse.

Back in August, we got word that Lucasfilm/Disney would not be moving forward with a second season of the Disney+ Star Wars series, despite several major storylines and character arcs being left unresolved by the end of the season 1 finale.

The decision was met with a mixture of indifference and disappointment, but it's very clear that a lot of Star Wars fans - and some of the actors involved with the show - were surprised by this development.

The "official" reason for the show's cancellation was low/declining viewership, but many feel the intense backlash from a vocal minority may have factored into the decision. We may never know if this was the case, but Stenberg...

Shailene Woodley and Barbie Ferreira are headed to Broadway!

The actresses were just announced to be cast in the upcoming new play Cult of Love, both making their debuts on the Great White Way.

Leslye Headland, creator of Star Wars series The Acolyte, penned the script for the show, which also marks her Broadway debut.

Keep reading to find out more…

Cult of Love centers around the holiday season for the Dahl family.

Here’s a synopsis: The four adult children return to their childhood home with partners in tow. The Dahl traditions include singing carols in harmony at the drop of a hat, but the gathering is anything but harmonious. Old conflicts resurface, new issues battled, and dinner is taking absolutely forever to be served. Will the love the Dahls have for each other be enough to get them through, or will this be their last Christmas together?

Roberta Colindrez...

Cult of Love, the upcoming new Broadway play by Star Wars: The Acolyte writer and showrunner Leslye Headland, will feature a cast that includes Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies), Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story), and Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria), producers announced today.

The Second Stage Theater production, directed by Trip Cullman, also will feature Molly Bernard (Younger), Roberta Colindrez (Broadway’s Fun Home), Rebecca Henderson (Star Wars: Acolyte), Christopher Lowell (Glow) and Christopher Sears (Off Broadway’s The Harvest).

Quinto is no stranger to Broadway – his credits include The Boys in the Band and The Glass Menagerie – while Woodley and Ferrari will be making their Broadway debuts.

The play, in its New York premiere, will begin previews on November 20 at Second Stage’s Helen Hayes Theater, with an official opening on December 12.

Additional casting will be announced shortly.

As previously announced, the synopsis reads: “It’s the holiday season for the Dahl family!

Shailene Woodley has joined the cast of the upcoming Broadway play Cult of Love from Leslye Headland, the creator of The Acolyte.

She joins Zachary Quinto and Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira, who have also boarded the play about four adult children from the Dahl family returning to their childhood home with their partners for the Christmas holidays, only to see their harmony interrupted as old and new conflicts arise.

Big Little Lies star Woodley, who currently appears in the Three Women TV series for Starz, is making her Broadway debut, as is Headland. The play’s ensemble cast also includes Molly Bernard, Roberta Colindrez, Rebecca Henderson, Christopher Lowell and Christopher Sears.

Woodley’s other credits include the Divergent film series and roles in The Fault in Our Stars, The Spectacular Now and The Descendants. Bernard is best known for playing Lauren Heller on Younger. She also starred in Milkwater and...

Disney may have canceled The Acolyte, but this stunning Zabrak cosplay proves the Star Wars TV show will have a lasting legacy. The Acolyte was controversial before it even released, and the Disney+ TV show - set a century before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - was sadly canceled due to low viewership. So far, there's no sign complaints or petitions have led Lucasfilm and Disney to reconsider.

But that doesn't mean The Acolyte will have no legacy. The cosplayer Shrye has unveiled a stunning Zabrak cosplay, inspired by The Acolyte's Mother Koril, in which she stands wielding a purple lightsaber. What is most striking, though, is the beauty of the costume; it's clearly based on Mother Aniseya's mysterious cult, and it's a welcome reminder of the beauty of The Acolyte's costuming.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Shrye (@shryecosplay) What The Acolyte's Creative Costumes...

The Acolyte has just been canceled after only one season, but it has left the door open for more! Here’s why the Star Wars series should have gotten one more year!

Caution: This article contains Spoilers for The Acolyte Season 1

Fans of streaming shows know there’s always a risk that a show that seems great and attains a devoted audience is unceremoniously canceled. Netflix is infamous for that while Disney+ has sadly ended some promising shows such as Renegade Nell and American Born Chinese. However, canceling a Star Wars show after only one season is something else.

The Acolyte has been the subject of much debate among Star Wars fans, from the plotlines to execution. Set a century before the movies in the High Republic era, it showcased Osha (Amandla Stenberg), a former Jedi padawan accused of murders that were actually the work of her believed dead twin...

Actor Manny Jacinto is still holding out hope for a second season of Star Wars series The Acolyte despite the recent cancellation. During an appearance at Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia (via @DigitalLA), Jacinto was asked about his future goals and what he would like to achieve before he leaves this mortal coil. For the actor, this answer was not a difficult one, with Jacinto pondering his response for a second before replying simply...

Season 2 of The Acolyte.

His answer was met with rapturous cheers and applause from the crowd, who clearly would also love to see the actor and the rest of The Acolyte cast return for more stories in a galaxy far, far away. Set at the end of the High Republic era before the events of the Skywalker Saga, The Acolyte follows a Jedi as he begins to investigates a series of crimes. Jacinto joins the Star...

Ahmed Best, the actor best known for playing Jar-Jar Binks, is familiar with how cruel certain segments of the Star Wars fandom can be and has shown his support for another actor in need of support, The Acolyte's Amandla Stenberg. Following the news that Disney announced they were canceling The Acolyte, a certain group of individuals decided to go onto Amandla Stenberg's social media post and celebrate the cancelation of the series, showing the cruel vitriol that had followed The Acolyte since the series was announced. On August 28, 2024, Stenberg took to social media to make a post that both showed her appreciation for the fans who had embraced the series while also calling out the racist comments they and the series received during its run.

The Acolyte 2/5 ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

Star Wars series that take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.

Following what appeared to be a review-bombing campaign and a surprising level of negativity surrounding the series, The Acolyte was recently cancelled by Disney+ after a single season. Now, many Star Wars fans are left with a long list of unanswered questions about where the story was meant to go which are unlikely to ever be addressed.

Long before that, lead star Amandla Stenberg faced similar racist abuse to John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, and Moses Ingram after being cast. Earlier this week, she broke her silence on the decision and has now she's earned the support of fellow Star Wars actor Ahmed Best.

"I will always stand in solidarity for artists who give 110% to their work and art," the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace star said (via SFFGazette.com). "Keep shining queen [Amandla Stenberg]."

As for why the actor would choose to weigh in, it likely has something to do with...

Amandla Stenberg, who played the dual lead roles of Force-sensitive "twins" Osha and Mae in The Acolyte, has broken her silence on Disney+'s latest Star Wars series being cancelled, and it sounds like she feels the negative backlash did contribute to Lucasfilm's decision to some extent.

Reports have indicated that the studio decided not to renew the show for a second season because of declining viewership, but Stenberg believes that a "rampage of hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred, and hateful language" contributed to the overall negative perception of the project.

“It’s not a huge shock for me [that it was canceled]. Of course, I live in the bubble of my own reality but for those who aren’t aware there has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced ... when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it.