The Acolyte arrived with big ideas and bold ambitions, charting a course into the rarely explored High Republic era. Set generations before the Skywalker family came into play, Leslye Headland’s series took a different approach to the Force—one that explored the shadows forming just beneath the surface of the Jedi’s so-called Golden Age.
The show didn’t waste time sparking conversation. From its premiere, it drew comparisons to Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VII–The Last Jedi (2017)—not because of plot, but because of how fast it split the fanbase. Arguments exploded online over what counts as canon, how characters should be written, and what Star Wars should look like in 2025.
Even though the show left major questions unanswered by the end of its eight-episode run, it was canceled—reportedly because of low viewership numbers. For many, the cancellation felt like Lucasfilm bowing to online voices that were loud, critical, and sometimes targeted cast members directly. Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, and Jodie Turner-Smith all came under fire from fans unhappy with the show’s direction.
The second season was never officially greenlit, but the idea of one lingered. From the start, the show drew attention as a “female-centric” project. With a diverse cast and a queer woman running the show, it stood out in a franchise that’s long leaned on familiar faces. While many fans welcomed the shift, others criticized it—some calling it “woke,” others claiming the social commentary was too on-the-nose.
Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment co-chairman, said the show’s hefty price tag was the main reason a second season didn’t move forward. But there’s more to the story. Parrot Analytics reported that The Acolyte had higher demand than Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka, suggesting the cancellation may have had less to do with performance and more to do with production costs.
That’s especially disappointing for fans curious about Qimir’s past. The character’s story has been fleshed out in “Star Wars: The Acolyte Visual Guide,” which dropped some major lore. Episode 8 introduced a mysterious Sith figure—revealed to be Darth Plagueis—on Qimir’s homeworld, a remote ocean planet inhabited by “an intelligent reptilian species that lives far from the islands.” According to The Holo Files (via The Direct), it could be Bal’demnic—the same place Darth Plagueis killed Darth Tenebrous in Legends. That planet also happens to be rich in cortosis, the metal in Qimir’s gear that can repel lightsabers.
The visual guide also revealed that Qimir has a criminal past. He “spent some time gunrunning in Hutt Space,” the lawless territory controlled by Jabba the Hutt’s clan. It paints a very different picture of the character, who at first seemed like a rogue with charisma—now shown to be a seasoned operator with ties to the black market.
He’s also a mystery in terms of age. One of the products associated with him includes “a rare nori-inkal from Boothi IV” in “an oily serum that revitalizes aged skin and eliminates wrinkles.” Add in his connection to pharmaceuticals, and it’s clear Qimir might be older—and more powerful—than he lets on.
The guide calls him “a pretender to [Sith] lineage… Whether he is the true heir to the Sith is a mystery no one will survive to solve.” Interestingly, the helmet he wears is “cosmetic,” meaning he’s blind while fighting—and relies completely on the Force.
Despite vocal criticism, The Acolyte connected with fans who appreciated its rich character work, especially between Osha and Qimir, and a more morally complex Jedi Order. Darth Plagueis’s debut in live-action added another layer to the Star Wars mythos that fans have been craving for years.
With Andor Season 2 concluding its run and no live-action series confirmed beyond Ahsoka Season 2, the franchise’s TV future feels uncertain. Ahsoka is currently filming, with plans to release in 2026. But Dave Filoni is writing the next season like it could be the last, depending on what happens next.
On the big screen, The Mandalorian and Grogu will hit theaters in 2026—marking Star Wars’ return to cinemas since 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker. The film is believed to take the place of The Mandalorian Season 4 and will likely tie into Filoni’s long-planned Heir to the Empire crossover. Then in 2027, Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter is set to premiere.
The rest of the film slate is harder to pin down. Simon Kinberg is working on a new trilogy, though it’s unknown whether it will intersect with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s New Jedi Order film starring Rey or chart its own course entirely.
“We’re looking at a number of additional series that are in development. We’ll see what we decide to do. As I said earlier, they have to be great, and when we’re in the position where we think we have what we want, we’re going to move forward,” Bergman said.
What do you want Star Wars to explore next? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
