Summary
This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episodes 1 & 2.The Acolyteintroduces a mysterious new Siith Apprentice who lived a century before the events ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. The war between the Jedi and the Sith ended a thousand years before the prequels, and the Jedi believed the Sith had been rendered extinct. In reality, Darth Bane had reformed the Sith according to theRule of Two, mandating that there should only ever be two Sith at any given time - and that they should work in the shadows to undermine the Jedi.
The Acolyteis set 100 years before the prequels, and it features a mysterious new Sith. It’s currently unclear whether this is the Sith Lord or the Apprentice, although trailers have shown him in battle with the Jedi, proving himself a force to be reckoned with.Who is this mysterious Sith, and what clues have been offered to date?
Star Wars: The Acolyte Cast & Character Guide
Here’s everything we know about The Acolyte’s cast and the characters they will be portraying in Star Wars' most mysterious project yet.
The Sith Is Looking For An Apprentice
First, it’s necessary to understand the plot ofThe Acolyte. This mysterious Sith appears to be seeking an apprentice, and Mae is essentially conducting an audition for the role. As revealed in Charles Soule and Giuseppe Camuncoli’sDarth Vader(2017) #1, a would-be apprentice must prove themselves by killing a Jedi and claiming their kyber crystal - which they later bleed red using the dark side, using it for their ownred lightsaber.The Acolytehas presumably added another wrinkle, that the Acolyte must either triumph unarmed or use the lightsaber of their victim.
This context helps understand the role of the Sith at this point. Although this could potentially be a Sith Lord who has recently lost his apprentice, it is more likely to be a Sith Apprentice who is preparing to overthrow his Master. That would explain whyThe Acolyteshowrunner Leslye Headland has dropped so many hints about the Rule of Two. Oddly, Mae doesn’t fit wiithin the known line of Baneite Sith, which presumably means things are about to head in a very different (and dangerous) direction for her.
The Sith Could Be Darth Tenebrous
But who could this Sith be? The first candidate isDarth Tenebrous, a character introduced inStar WarsLegends who would have been around at this point in the timeline. Darth Tenebrous has been name-dropped once inStar Warscanon, inBuild the Millennium Falcon#44, which revealed he’s very similar to his Legends incarnation. Describing Darth Maul’s Sith Interceptor, that magazine notes:
“Said to be one of the fruits of the creative genius of Raith Sienar, the renowned designer’s involvement in the project was later disputed, and the ship is thought to have actually been designed by Darth Tenebrous, the Sith Master of Darth Plagueis.”
In Legends, Darth Tenebrous was a Bith, and he wore a respirator. There are some similarities between Darth Tenebrous' respirator and elements of the Sith helmet inThe Acolyte, raising the possibility this is indeed the canon version of Tenebrous. As exciting as that possibility may be, though, there is one other alternative.
The Acolyte’s Sith Lord Could Be Darth Plagueis Himself
The second alternative isDarth Plagueis, the Sith Lord destined to become Palpatine’s master. A member of a long-lived species known as the Muuns, Plagueis has only been seen in shadow in canon before, meaning there’s no real visual source to compare him to. According toStar Wars: Timelines, Plagueis took on the 19-year-old Palpatine as his apprentice in 65BBY. By this time, Plagueis had become obsessed with the secret of immortality, and he focused on learning how to manipulate the Midi-chlorians to create life.
If this is indeed Darth Plagueis, then he is presumably only an Apprentice himself at this point inThe Acolyte- one who is preparing to kill his Master. It’s possible Mae is his first Apprentice, one who does not survive the experience, meaning Plagueis is forced to look elsewhere - ultimately finding his way to Palpatine. If this is indeed Plagueis, thenThe Acolyte’s Sith Lord could possessForce powersthe Jedi have never seen before.
Is This An Actual Sith At All?
Custom Image by Corey Larson
Some have theorized this is not a Sith at all; rather, that the design of the helmet is deliberately reminiscent of those worn by the Knights of Ren. Introduced in theStar Warssequel trilogy, the Knights of Ren are known to have existed for centuries. They venerate the dark side, which they call “the Shadow,” and they’re particularly active on the Outer Rim - far from the influence of the Jedi Order. The distorted voice of the mysterious being inThe Acolytedoes sound a little reminiscent of Kylo Ren’s modulated voice.
While this is an interesting theory, it’s unlikely. Leslye Headland has discussed the Sith at length, and her desire to pull back the mask of the Sith and reveal what really drives them. It’s unlikely, then, thatThe Acolytewould feature such a prominent and powerful non-Sith. This probably is a Sith - an established name, a dark figure inStar Warshistory who will surely have an enduring influence.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
