Despite positive reception from critics, 'The Acolyte' failed to reach the necessary performance threshold for a second season, according to Disney executives.
- December 20, 2024
AceShowbiz - The Disney+ series "The Acolyte" has been canceled after only one season, despite an initially positive reception from critics. Disney Entertainment co-chair Alan Bergman revealed that while they were "happy" with the show's performance, it did not meet the cost structure requirements for a second season.
The series, which ran for eight episodes between June and July, explored a mystery surrounding a former Padawan (Amandla Stenberg) and her Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) during the final days of the High Republic era. Despite critical praise for its innovative approach to the Star Wars universe, a vocal contingent of fans rejected the show, labeling it as "woke" due to Stenberg's casting as a black LGBTQ lead.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics' score for "The Acolyte" stands at 78%, while the users' score is only 18%. While the show made its Nielsen steaming Top 10 debut upon its release, it fell out of the ranking within two weeks. It returned to the bottom spot of the ranking six weeks later, coinciding with the release of its finale.
Stenberg, who received significant backlash online for her role in the show, expressed that the cancellation was not surprising given the negative reactions she had faced. However, Jung-jae expressed hope for a potential second season in the future.
Bergman provided updates on other Star Wars projects in development, including "some growth" with "Skeleton Crew", positive reviews for "Andor" Season 2, and ongoing development for "Ahsoka" season 2 and "a number of additional series." Additionally, the story of "The Mandalorian" and Grogu will continue in an eponymous feature film set to release in May 2026.
