As a gamer who has witnessed the tumultuous landscape of fandoms over the years, I can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment and disbelief at the cancellation of “The Acolyte.” Despite its brief run, it was a refreshing addition to the Star Wars universe, offering a unique perspective that dared to delve into complex social and political dynamics.
Although multiple new Star Wars movies and series are scheduled for release in the near future, a continuation set in the High Republic era is not among them. Last week, news broke that The Acolyte had been terminated after its first season, leading to a mix of fans attempting to revive the show and distressing online harassment targeted at lead actress Amandla Stenberg. Today, for the first time, Stenberg has publicly addressed the cancellation of The Acolyte, expressing that she was not taken aback by Disney’s decision.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Stenberg, who’s also known for playing Rue in The Hunger Games and Starr Carter in The Hate U Give, shared her thoughts about The Acolyte’s cancellation over a series of videos. Regarding why she wasn’t surprised this corner of the Star Wars franchise won’t continue, here’s what the Osha and Mae actress said:
As a fan myself, let me openly admit that this wasn’t entirely unexpected for me. However, for those who might be unaware, ever since our show was merely an idea, there’s been a wave of intense criticism and hostility. I call it hyper-conservative backlash, laden with prejudice, hatred, and vile language. This wave hit us hard when I got the job, even though I had anticipated it, the reality was still jarring. It’s one thing to foresee such treatment, but quite another to experience it firsthand.
Despite receiving generally favorable reviews from critics, “The Acolyte” was also subjected to review bombing, as indicated by its 78% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes versus its 18% Audience Score. This doesn’t mean that the Star Wars series didn’t warrant criticism, and its cancellation seems to have been due to poor ratings. However, Amandla Stenberg is correct in stating that “The Acolyte” faced a challenging situation, having to contend with backlash from fans, even by the standards of this franchise. She further noted:
In other words, I’ve navigated these feelings in diverse ways, one of which was expressing them openly. For me, it boiled down to upholding my moral principles, personal beliefs, and values while being in such a unique role as part of the Star Wars franchise. It felt like I was observing the world’s current divisiveness from this special vantage point of being associated with Star Wars. This experience triggered many social and political issues for me, challenged my belief system, and influenced how I react to hatred and navigate life in general. At some point, it became clear to me that maintaining my authentic self required adhering to my values, even within the context of working for Disney and within the expansive Star Wars intellectual property.
After the cancellation of “The Acolyte,” Amandla Stenberg shared her feelings, stating that while she’s “extremely disappointed,” she also feels a sense of “optimism and delight” about being part of the Star Wars universe. She spent time appreciating fan art, shipping art, theories, and more within this community.
I’m hopeful that Lucasfilm will eventually tie up the loose ends from Season 1 of our favorite show in either a book, multiple books, or a comic book series. Until then, let’s keep our fingers crossed! In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to Disney+ to catch the next Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew, premiering on December 3.
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2024-08-29 03:07