New Details Revealed About Why Series Was Cancelled, Including A-List Actor Who Almost Played Sol

Earlier this week, we learned that Lucasfilm/Disney has no intention of moving forward with the production of a second season. Acolyte despite several important plot threads and character arcs remaining unresolved by the end of the first season finale.

The decision was met with a mixture of indifference and disappointment, but it is clear that many people Star Wars Fans — and some of the show’s actors — were surprised by this turn of events.

Showrunner Leslye Headland had been hoping for a continuation of the High Republic-set story, and rumors have it that the studio was planning a second season until recently.

So what happened?

Despite speculation that many people have had a negative reaction Star Wars the fans contributed to the decision, Jeff Sneider (By SFFGazette.com) informs that Acolyte was canceled because it simply did not have enough viewers.

“Insiders explain that The Acolyte was canceled because the ratings were poor, and that there really wasn’t much more to it, although at least one cast member said they were surprised by the decision. I’m told that The Acolyte’s ratings collapsed after the first two episodes, while Andor’s ratings steadily increased throughout the season, so the show was renewed for Season 2. Andor also received exceptional reviews, while The Acolyte’s reviews were more mixed.

Like all shows, The Acolyte went through an extensive notes process, but ultimately it was the show Headland wanted to create.

Sneider also commented on the recent rumor that Keanu Reeves was originally set to star in the series, and believes he was indeed Headland’s first choice for the role of Jedi Master Sol. Apparently, a scheduling conflict prevented him from signing on, and the role went to him. Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae.

Don’t be surprised if we see Reeves take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at some point, though, as “Lucasfilm continues to value the actor, whose interest has been noted internally.”

Finally, Sneider says the persistent rumors about Kathleen Kennedy leaving are just that, rumors, and that the Lucasfilm chief’s position “is safe until at least the second quarter of next year.”

How do you feel about this? Acolyte‘s cancellation? Leave us a comment below.

In The Acolyte, the investigation into a shocking series of crimes pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As clues emerge, they follow a dark path where sinister forces reveal that not all is as it seems.

The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo and Carrie-Anne Moss.

Leslye Headland created the series based on Star Wars George Lucas and serves as executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are co-executive producers. Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Eileen Shim and Rob Bredow are producers.

Headland also directed the premiere episodes (episodes 101 and 102). Directors Kogonada (episodes 103 and 107), Alex Garcia Lopez (episodes 104 and 105), and Hanelle Culpepper (episodes 106 and 108) round out the directing duties for the series.

“I really wanted to tell a Sith story” Cape said EW in a recent interview. “That was my dream idea for Star Wars. But it felt like the time period in which you could do it would be something pre-The Phantom Menace. It seemed like the most interesting trajectory for the Sith: How did the Sith go from the Rule of Two and being, as they say, ‘extinct’ to Palpatine coming to power without the Jedi knowing about it?”

Award-winning composer Michael Abels, known for his work on Get off and we scored points Acolyte.