Leslye Headland's Jedi tale wades into the murky ethical waters at the heart of this long-running space opera
Close to fifty years in, how do you tell a story set in the live-action Star Wars universe that feels novel enough to keep both lifelong fans satiated and new viewers entertained? Over the last few years, Lucasfilm has toyed with different answers to that question. The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor have found, to varying degrees of success, that nostalgia can only take you so far. Why play in this IP sandbox if not to reframe what's come before and reshape what's yet to happen? Casey Likes and Liana Hunt test their "Back To The Future" trivia knowledge CC Share Subtitles Off English view video Casey Likes and Liana Hunt test their Back To The Future trivia knowledge With The Acolyte, which premieres June 4 on Disney+, writer-director Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) has crafted an intriguing entry into this decades-spanning franchise that thrills precisely for the way it repurposes well-worn Star Wars tropes all while threading a brand-new tale anchored by a slew of fresh characters. On its surface, Headland thrusts into a Jedi noir tale: Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) along with his Padawan Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and young Jedi Knight Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett) are tasked with solving a case involving the rare murder of a Jedi master. Yet the more Sol and these Jedi investigate what and who is behind this killing (and the threat of more deaths to come), they uncover a history Sol thought he and his brethren had buried long ago. Advertisement Reviews Reviews The Acolyte B+ B+ The Acolyte From its very first scene, The Acolyte is intent on cheekily nudging to long-storied images and set pieces from Stars Wars of yore. We're in a cantina and a mysterious, robed character arrives in search of a Jedi master whom she intends to fight. She's laughed at and mocked on sight. Battling any Jedi is a fool's errand, especially since our mysterious figure refuses to wield a weapon. The Jedi are…