Key Takeaways:
– The Acolyte, a new addition to Star Wars franchise, features Manny Jacinto as the Sith Master known as The Stranger.
– Eminent director Leslye Headland reveals the detailed character designing process, highlighting the inspiration from Elden Ring for Jacinto's costume.
– Concerns and accusations have risen surrounding the show's progressive themes, to which Headland affirmed the essence of the narrative and denied any intentional queer content creation.
Caught in a Web of Intrigue
The Star Wars universe continues to dazzle fans with its rich backstory and dynamic characters. Among its latest offerings is The Acolyte, which is directed by Leslye Headland. As a Disney+ live-action series, it plunges viewers into a timeline about 100 years prior to The Phantom Menace, marking the tail end of the High Republic era.
A Character Reveal Shakes Up the Plot
The fifth episode of The Acolyte turned heads with plot twists including the revelation of Qimir (Manny Jacinto) as the Sith Master, The Stranger. Fans were caught off guard when they realized that the one behind several Jedis' horrific deaths was Mae's (Amandla Stenberg) seemingly harmless sidekick.
Elden Ring Played a Role in Character Design
Headland, during an interview with Inverse, shared the process behind designing the character Qimir. She emphasized the critical role that Elden Ring, an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftwars, played.But it wasn't the source of inspiration one might expect, rather the inspiration led to an intriguingly villainous outfit choice.
Headland detailed the rigorous task of constructing a unique Sith character, given how well-established these personalities already are in the Star Wars universe. Rejected initially, the sketch of Qimir's outfit, showing Jacinto's arms quite visibly, became the preferred choice only after the screen test.
Mirror the Game, Morph the Character
Headland took inspiration from the Elden Ring costume, nicknaming it “The Elden Bling” for the characters wearing minimal or no armor, deciding that Qimir would sport a similar, unhindered style. Following this cue, Qimir's Cortosis ore helmet became the only significant part of his costume. This distinctive attire set the fans talking and left some questioning the lack of armored protection.
Addressing Criticisms and Azaming Expectations
Controversies erupted when fans interpreted the relationship between Mother Aniseya and Mother Koril in the plot as a queer bond, attributing this to Headland's own sexual orientation.
Headland, the first openly queer person to helm a major Star Wars series, dispelled these accusations. She clarified that them being from a matriarchal society with no male existence naturally brought them into a close relationship.
Stepping into Spotlight with The Acolyte
That Star Wars continues to lure its global fan base into new narrative orbits is testament to its captivating world-building and charismatic characters. As for The Acolyte, the hullabaloo around its characters and themes underscores the dynamic essence of the Star Wars brand.
Despite the controversies, the cosmic allure of Star Wars remains unstoppable, with its latest offering, The Acolyte, currently streaming on Disney+. Through its changing narratives and dramatic character arcs, this addition is set to take audiences through an otherworldly adventure within the expansive Star Wars universe.
