The Trailer for 'The Acolyte' Teases a 'Star Wars' Murder-Mystery Where Someone Is Killing Jedi

Star Wars, but make it a murder-mystery thriller? If that's your dream for a galaxy far, far away, it's looks like it's coming true in The Acolyte, at least based on the upcoming show's just-released first trailer. The sixth live-action series in the George Lucas-started sprawling saga to hit Disney+, this eight-episode effort will plunge into a grim spree — someone is killing Jedi — when it joins your streaming queue this winter.

Following a Jedi Master who is forced to face a mysterious warrior from his past, The Acolyte will initially debut with two instalments on Tuesday, June 4. Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game) and Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) play the figures in question, respectively, in a series that doesn't skimp on cast highlights. Manny Jacinto (Nine Perfect Strangers), Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll), Jodie Turner-Smith (Sex Education) and Rebecca Henderson (You Hurt My Feelings) also co-star, as do Dean-Charles Chapman (Game of Thrones), Joonas Suotamo (who played Chewbacca in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker) and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix Resurrections).

The vibe in the newly revealed first glimpse at the series: moody, leaning into the dark side and filled with confrontation. Visually, there's a gloomier look to much of the trailer as well, with creator Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) adding something distinctive to the ever-expanding space-opera franchise.

Also different is the fact that The Acolyte takes place during High Republic era, which means that its events precede Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace by a century. Don't got expecting a heap of familiar faces popping up, then, whether Stenberg's assassin is attempting to slay Moss' Jedi, lightsabers are being swung or a Wookiee is making an appearance.

On the small screen, The Acolyte slips into the Star Wars realm after The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor and Ahsoka, all of which have arrived since 2019. Both Andor and Ahsoka also have second seasons on the way.

Only one film in the saga has been released in that period, with The Rise of Skywalker closing out the third big-screen trilogy in the franchise just a month after The Mandalorian premiered. The next movie expected: The Mandalorian spinoff The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Check out the first trailer for The Acolyte below:

The Acolyte will stream via Disney+ from Tuesday, June 4, 2o24.

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