The Acolyte Creator Leslye Headland Regrets Not Exploring One Backstory

The Acolyte Creator Leslye Headland Regrets Not Exploring One Backstory

As a dedicated Star Wars fan and avid gamer, I was both thrilled and disappointed with the portrayal of Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh (Rebecca Henderson) in Season 1 of The Acolyte. Her unique purple whip lightsaber piqued my interest from the very beginning, but her backstory remained shrouded in mystery throughout the entire season.


Warning! The Following Contains SPOILERS from The Acolyte Season 1.

As a gamer, I can relate to feeling disappointed when a character with an intriguing backstory and unique abilities doesn’t get the spotlight they deserve. In the case of The Acolyte’s first season, Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh, played by Rebecca Henderson, was a captivating character with her cool, crackling purple whip lightsaber. However, I felt that Leslye Headland, the creator and showrunner, missed an opportunity to delve deeper into her backstory. I wanted to learn more about this Mirialan Jedi Master and how she came to wield such a distinctive weapon. Unfortunately, her presence in the eight episodes of Disney+ series didn’t live up to my expectations, leaving me wishing for more.

Despite the abundance of intriguing characters like Mae, Osha (Amandla Stenberg), the Stranger (Manny Jacinto), and Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae), who played significant roles in the narrative, Vernestra’s past remained largely untouched and shrouded in mystery during Season 1. According to Headland, an interview with Entertainment Weekly revealed this decision.

“I attempted to introduce that topic earlier, yet it proved challenging due to the abundance of other engagements. I thrive on this densely populated schedule and enjoy discovering every hidden corner. Star Wars offers a wealth of intriguing details, making it an ideal playground for exploration. Consequently, there were aspects I sadly couldn’t delve into.”

In the last scene of the series finale, Vernestra appears desperate and frustrated. To seek guidance from an even greater power, she turns to the wise Jedi Master Yoda. For the very first time in the series, we catch a brief peek at the back of Master Yoda’s iconic head. According to Headland:

If I couldn’t do Plagueis or Yoda, I think that would’ve been a real heartbreak.

Leslye Headland Decided to Focus on Other Characters in Season 1

The Acolyte Creator Leslye Headland Regrets Not Exploring One BackstoryThe Acolyte Creator Leslye Headland Regrets Not Exploring One BackstoryThe Acolyte Creator Leslye Headland Regrets Not Exploring One BackstoryThe Acolyte Creator Leslye Headland Regrets Not Exploring One BackstoryThe Acolyte Creator Leslye Headland Regrets Not Exploring One Backstory

In the thrilling first season of “The Acolyte,” one of the most captivating moments is when Master Vernestra uses her unique lightsaber whip for the very first time in a live-action “Star Wars” production. However, showrunner Leslye Headland had to make a tough choice and dedicate less time to Vernestra’s storyline in order to develop and conclude the intricate plots surrounding Masters Sol and the Stranger by the last episode of the season. According to Headland during an interview:

As a longtime fan of this captivating series, I can’t help but be thrilled about the latest developments. Having invested countless hours into following the storylines and growing attached to the characters, I feel that the creators have made a wise decision in providing some much-needed answers and resolutions.

If the authorities give the go-ahead for Season 2 of “The Acolyte,” viewers can look forward to Darth Plagueis the Wise’s impact shaping the future of Headland’s show, set a century before the occurrences in “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.” Yet, Headland shares that she has been informed “nothing” about the possibility of another season being planned as of now.

You can easily watch or binge the entire eight-episode series of “The Acolyte” now on Disney+.

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2024-07-22 20:01