After decades of revolving around the Skywalkers, the Lee Jung-jae-led show will finally break the mold.

Star Wars: The Acolyte will finally shift away from the mainline Skywalker saga, whose story will precede the events of the main movies in the franchise. Starring Lee Jung-jae, who hit global stardom in 2021, thanks to the success of Squid Game, and The Hate U Give star Amandla Stenberg in the lead, the series will take place in the Republic Era.

Reasonably, the shift from the Skywalker era on paper has fans excited, as this could reinvigorate the franchise, which will offer a fresh outlook on the Jedi Order.

Star Wars: The Acolyte’s Premise Has Fans Hooked

Star Wars: The Acolyte | Source: Star Wars
Spearheaded by Russian Doll creator Lesley Headland, The Acolyte will follow a dangerous crime spree, which will take place a few hundred years before the events of The Phantom Menace. The series will see Lee Jung-jae playing a respected Jedi Master, who will go against a dangerous warrior from his past, played by Amandla Stenberg. The official synopsis reads:

With Star Wars: The Acolyte set to shift away from the Skywalker Saga, fans are excited to explore the High Republic era, which will be a breath of fresh air from the usual the franchise has to offer.

Glad they’re exploring other eras outside Skywalker saga

— Reiki (@aet3rno) March 18, 2024
 

Potential for a great story there.

Fingers crossed. pic.twitter.com/bDRInRj4N2

— Hafeesco (@Abdul_charming) March 18, 2024
 

I’m keeping my expectations for low for now! But I’m happy with what I’m reading. pic.twitter.com/JSSe3Lm896

— Syriangeekvibes (@syriangeekvibes) March 18, 2024
 

I can’t wait to see this show with the era it takes place in I’m excited to see what is explored between the two opposing sides. It’s good to see more Jedi stuff separate from the trilogies.

It sounds promising!

— Chris (@PositivelyChris) March 18, 2024
 

finally a story that isn’t about some Skywalkers.

I wanna see a Supernatural Horror film set in universe.

— Casino Capitalism (@HDogetagonist) March 18, 2024
With Headland helming the pilot and a trailer for the series set to be dropped soon, it’ll be interesting to see how the Jedi Order operated prior to the trilogies.

Lee Jung-jae is Ecstatic to Join the Star Wars Franchise

Being a lifelong Star Wars fan, Lee Jung-jae expressed that being part of the Star Wars franchise is a dream come true for him. Ecstatic about this opportunity, the Squid Game Star raved about Star Wars, stressing that everyone who loves making movies, dreams of being part of it.
Lee Jung-jae | Credit: Squid Games
He said (via Youtube / Star Wars):
“I was very young when I saw Star Wars for the first time in the theater. Watching it, I was utterly shocked. To get to witness such a large-scale war take place in space on the silver screen at the theater as a young boy, and to get such an experience and feeling from the movie, was an absolute shock. I remember wondering if what I’d seen was really just a movie. That’s when I became a Star Wars fan. I really think the Star Wars franchise is one which people who love making films dream of possibly working one day. It was just a pipe dream, which is why I still can’t believe that I’m still part of this project.”

With fans well aware of Jung-jae’s acting chops, following his immaculate performance in the Netflix series, it’s reasonable to assume the actor would excel as a Jedi in The Acolyte.

Star Wars: The Acolyte will premiere on Disney Plus on June 4, 2024.