The Acolyte’s Cancellation Continues Disney’s Biggest Star Wars Problem

The Acolyte's Cancellation Continues Disney's Biggest Star Wars Problem

As a lifelong fan of Star Wars, I must admit that I’ve been both thrilled and disheartened by the recent developments within this beloved universe. On one hand, it’s exciting to see new stories unfold and characters introduced on shows like “The Mandalorian” and the upcoming “Skeleton Crew.” Yet, on the other hand, I can’t help but feel a sense of frustration when promising projects like “The Acolyte” get abruptly cancelled.


This article contains spoilers for “Star Wars: The Acolyte”

Gathered here today, we express our sorrow for the untimely departure of “Star Wars: The Acolyte,” a series that met an unfortunate end before it could fully bloom. During its lifetime, it encountered numerous obstacles such as review-bombing, inconsistent writing, and the intense hostility from certain YouTube content creators. It wasn’t without flaws; “The Acolyte” received fair critiques regarding pacing issues, a slow start, and other aspects. However, by the end of its solitary season, it gained significant traction. Manny Jacinto delivered captivating performances where he slaughtered numerous Jedi in some of the most impressive lightsaber action the franchise has ever witnessed. The series also offered tantalizing dark side temptation, a deep exploration of the Jedi Order, and mesmerizing performances from actors like Jodie Turner-Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Lee Jung-jae.

Primarily, what stood out most was how “The Acolyte” brought fresh elements to the table. Fresh faces, unexplored worlds, novel concepts, and varied viewpoints on an established universe were introduced, along with a multitude of innovative creators adding their expertise and flair to the series. Regrettably, these new additions will no longer be part of the franchise, which is disappointing, but not unprecedented as Disney has previously ended “Star Wars” projects amidst rough seas.

Conservative commentators are already rejoicing over the cancellation of a series they once criticized for focusing on stories not typically centered around whites or straight characters, which reminds me of the controversy surrounding “The Last Jedi.” Just as that film’s backlash led to “The Rise of Skywalker” attempting to be palatable to all, Disney might be repeating the same mistake by canceling “The Acolyte.”

The Acolyte fell victim to the modern streaming model

The Acolyte's Cancellation Continues Disney's Biggest Star Wars Problem

The instinct to cancel expensive streaming series after lackluster first-season viewership isn’t a phenomenon unique to “Star Wars” or Disney+. It’s become a pillar of the streaming business model. Shows like “Breaking Bad” that thrived for years on a traditional TV production model gave birth to the modern streaming landscape, turning “binge-watching” into a quarterly earnings bullet point. The irony is that original streaming series rarely last long enough to achieve the volume those shows needed to become binge-able in the first place. And for the few that do, ever-elongating production schedules and ballooning budgets mean fans are frequently waiting two years between eight-episode seasons.

The original spirit that made “Star Wars” a worldwide sensation seems absent in these recent productions. For instance, “The Phantom Menace” was heavily criticized and many fans felt the same way about “Attack of the Clones”. However, it’s important to acknowledge that without George Lucas’ steadfastness and commitment to his vision, “Star Wars” might not have grown into the billion-dollar franchise it is today under Disney.

Following the cancellation of “The Acolyte,” fans on social media have speculated that “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” might not have made it past Season 1 if it had been produced during the current streaming era. Despite enjoying six seasons under Lucas and an additional one with Disney, the cherished animated series faced difficulties finding its footing in its early years, much like many other shows often do.

A franchise like Star Wars needs room to make mistakes

The Acolyte's Cancellation Continues Disney's Biggest Star Wars Problem

Over the past ten years, Disney has generated an abundance of “Star Wars” content following their acquisition of Lucasfilm, yet they’ve generally shied away from taking major risks. The film “The Last Jedi” ranks among the top 20 highest-grossing movies ever, but its controversial response from a particular group of fans pushed the studio towards a more conventional and less innovative approach for “The Rise of Skywalker”. This choice didn’t prevent the movie from being average in quality. The series “The Clone Wars” took several seasons to truly find its stride. Since 2019, Disney hasn’t released a theatrical “Star Wars” film, although numerous projects have been announced and then scrapped.

Strands that appear to have endured are often heavily reliant on nostalgia. The upcoming release of “The Mandalorian” in 2026, which has been Disney’s most successful streaming title for the franchise, has become saturated with deepfakes, cameos, and trips back to Tatooine. While the “Ahsoka” series, which is returning for a Season 2, offers some fresh concepts, it primarily focuses on reaffirming old EU storylines and giving Hayden Christensen new lightsaber fight sequences. I can’t criticize Lucasfilm for this as it’s Hayden, after all, and Thrawn makes an intriguing villain. “Skeleton Crew” is set to arrive later this year, while “Andor” Season 2 is just around the corner.

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I can’t deny the series still has potential for fresh perspectives and compelling narratives. Yet, there remains an underlying hesitance that leaves me uneasy. And when a project with great promise gets axed, particularly one featuring a talented Black, queer star who receives unwarranted harassment from so-called fans, it feels like we’re catering to a crowd that doesn’t truly want to embrace change. It seems more like feeding the fire of a group that doesn’t genuinely want to be converted.

Cancellations can cost more in the long run

The Acolyte's Cancellation Continues Disney's Biggest Star Wars Problem

As a gamer, I can’t stop thinking about “The Acolyte” getting canceled. Even though it started strong with a good number of viewers, it lost them as the season progressed. It seemed like a vocal group of critics took over the conversation until Qimir’s arms silenced them (rightfully so). However, the more significant point might be an older statistic – specifically, one from a 2022 YouGov survey on streaming habits. The study found that the high risk of premature cancellations makes it hard for people to get invested in shows initially. In fact, nearly half of the adults surveyed said they’d probably wait until a show is fully completed before starting it, afraid the story might end abruptly midway.

Today, every streaming subscriber is familiar with that feeling of uncertainty – glance to either side, neither of these shows you’re currently enjoying may persist into next autumn. In a singular franchise like “Star Wars,” the implications could be more profound. How does the continuity shift if intended narratives don’t materialize? What happens to the growth and evolution of the universe when we repeatedly restart from scratch?

In a simpler and more conversational style: Overprotection of intellectual property (IP), like hoarding that expensive maple syrup so much it spoils in your fridge, seems to be Disney’s focus with “The Acolyte.” While they prioritize financial gains, it’s important to remember that the reason fans keep supporting the Star Wars franchise is its rich lore. Overly cautious strategies might not only harm the franchise but also hinder the growth of fresh ideas, leading to stagnation. And while I remain a fan of Star Wars, we all suffer when innovative concepts don’t have the chance to develop and evolve.

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2024-08-21 03:00