Star Wars: The Acolyte fans have reacted loudly to the series reportedly being axed after just one season on Disney+.
News of The Acolyte's cancellation came from Deadline, whose sources revealed that Disney has elected not to proceed with Season 2. This decision, yet to be announced by Disney, comes just over a month after the first season aired its finale, which left the door open for another season with several unresolved plot threads and plenty of burning questions.
The Acolyte proved divisive during its eight-episode run, as some people sang its praises and got a kick out of its various references and cameos, including the highly anticipated Darth Plagueis reveal. In contrast, others were critical, pointing out issues with its incohesive writing and unusual choices that they felt didn't fit Star Wars.
However, shortly after the series concluded, a group of fans launched a campaign that resulted in #RenewTheAcolyte trending on X/Twitter. Those people, plus a legion of others, were left feeling frustrated and disappointed that the show didn't have more time to find its footing and follow up on its cliffhanger ending.
Shocking and devastating Star Wars news today….THE ACOLYTE has been canceled after 1 season. So many plot threads left unanswered. Darth Plagueis. The tie between Vernestra Rwoh and Qimir. Osha’s turn to the dark side. So many more stories to tell #RenewTheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/sC69Pd24E9
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) August 19, 2024
Really sucks to hear the news of The Acolyte's cancellation. The show had a lot of promise, especially in its back half and I was excited and intrigued to see where it would go next. Hopefully its story and characters can continue in some other form, but what a bummer pic.twitter.com/A2tsfwAcx4
— Ricky Church (@RichardChurch16) August 20, 2024
The acolyte has been cancelled and I am baffled. I know a lot of weird people on the internet made it their whole personality to hate it… but it was genuinely some of my favourite Star Wars… period. Many people I know enjoyed it. Sad day. pic.twitter.com/JirVs5JxaD
— Kelly McLaughlin (@KaiInRealLife) August 20, 2024
the acolyte getting cancelled is maybe the most disappointing thing that i’ve witnessed from star wars in a while. and that’s saying something!
— cece ?? is grieving the acolyte (@tiny_nightshade) August 19, 2024
It’s a generally bleak time for television; not just because of The Acolyte. Everything gets cancelled. Nothing gets a chance to find its footing like before. Companies wonder why no one’s watching and it’s because no one wants to get invested in an inevitable unfinished story.
— Riley ⧗ ⊃∪∩⪽ ? (@rileyanntoine) August 20, 2024
Acolyte being canceled sucks. Deeply imperfect show but at least it was TRYING to branch out with new ideas, characters, and stories from what we are used to. It had *something* behind it even if the execution wasn’t there all the time. Such a shame, makes me sad.
— joe bro (@jbromovies) August 19, 2024
So you’re telling me we all have to forget about one of the sickest Star Wars dark side users we’ve gotten in years?#TheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/pHo9ojd7Zi
— BLURAYANGEL ? (@blurayangel) August 19, 2024
You are allowed to not like something in a franchise, but you shouldn’t be celebrating the cancellation of that that you don’t like in that particular fandom.
— JediGeekGirl - Ice Queen? (@JediGeekGirl) August 20, 2024
Because even if you didn’t like it, there are those who loved it. To celebrate their pain, is cruel and selfish.
Manny Jacinto's performance as The Stranger earned him a place among the very best Star Wars villains. A second season would have focused heavily on his character and his relationship to DARTH FUCKING PLAGUEIS.And yet people are celebrating that they won't get to see this
— anabelle // skeleton crew era ? (@anabelle_dawn) August 20, 2024
WILD? pic.twitter.com/GgPc6J5nrI
When a Star Wars fan complains about not getting Darth Plagueis now IM just gonna retweet the cancellation of The Acolyte and be like "Well I mean you are kinda the reason you wont see him now" pic.twitter.com/zKlc6vwMLB
— Ethan (@Turbo_Lover6) August 19, 2024
Me after The Acolyte cancellation pic.twitter.com/ff82ALHds4
— Brooks | ?️? (@brookstweetz) August 20, 2024
Showrunner Leslye Headland previously commented on the possibility of future seasons, telling Entertainment Weekly she had "four or five major mysteries" that she would have liked to explore beyond the first season. Likewise, at D23 this month, star Manny Jacinto expressed his desire to reprise his fan-favorite character again.
It's now unclear whether Disney will return to Star Wars' High Republic era or answer any of the questions posed by The Acolyte during its first season. But given the show's performance, is seems unlikely those cliffhangers will be resolved. According to the Deadline report, while The Acolyte's viewership started strong, garnering 11.1 million views in its first five days of streaming, its momentum waned, dropping out of Nielsen's weekly Top 10 chart in week three. It would return to the Top 10 at #10, however, for the season finale.
Even though those hopes now appear quashed, Lucasfilm still has plenty of Star Wars shows to come. Next up is Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, debuting on December 3, which recently unveiled its first trailer, followed by Andor Season 2 next year. Ahsoka Season 2 is also in development, as confirmed by Disney in January.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter here.
