Star Wars: The Acolyte will feature fan-favorite Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh, equipped with her purple-bladed lightsaber that has a modification that changes it into a lightwhip.
The Acolyte introduces a cast of new characters and brings back a familiar one from the High Republic era. Fans got a glimpse of some of these key figures in the first trailer for the series but not a lot of information about them — fortunately, the team at StarWars.com provided some new intel via their official Databank.
The profiles reveal more about the "protectors of the peace," Jedi Master Sol and Jedi Master Indara, in addition to Master Kelnacca, as well as newcomers Jedi Knight Yord, the Padawan Jecki, the smuggler Qimir, and the leader of a coven of Witches, Mother Aniseya, but one of the most recognizable names is that of Vernestra Rwoh.
Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland confirmed in an interview with Collider that Rwoh, played by Rebecca Henderson, is the only High Republic character jumping from page to screen. She first appeared in Charles Soule's novel Light of the Jedi, but audiences will see an older version of her in the upcoming series.
Those who know Rwoh from the books will know that she became a Jedi Knight at an unusually young age, 15, making her a prodigious hero. She also carries an extremely rare weapon, which we will see in The Acolyte, as her Databank entry confirms she wields "a purple-bladed lightsaber that can change into a lightwhip."
Rwoh modified her traditional blade after a Force vision showed her how to elasticize her weapon to become a lightwhip, though using it required skill and precision to keep the tendril under control. The whip setting also made the blade slightly weaker in its cutting ability but proved effective in capturing and entangling opponents.
Fans might see the lightwhip in action when Star Wars: The Acolyte premieres on Disney+ this June. The season consists of eight episodes, though Headland has already said the show could "absolutely" expand beyond one season, picking up on some of the narrative threads left hanging at the end of the first chapter.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
