Summary
NewStar Wars:The Acolyteinfo trickled its way onto the information swamp of the internet. Among the tidbits is a confirmation of how much the show cost to make. But in addition, it also appears to share a delightfully obscure connection with the originalStar Warstrilogy.
It was recently revealed thatThe Acolyteis inspired by unexpected areassuch as the divisiveSolo: A Star Wars Story, which is one way it’s been setting itself apart from its peers. Another way it’s doing that is via its budget, with Disney now revealed to have spent $49.2 million on theStar Warsshow’s pre-production. While not the highest in the franchise, it beats out the beloved filmRogue Oneby $5.5 million. No small feat when comparing a streaming series to a blockbuster film. But it’s only one of several waysThe Acolyteis outside the box.
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In a recent report fromForbes, along with details like the budget, it was revealed thatThe Acolyte’s codename during production is Blue Stockings. Some films use codenames to avoid drawing attention from fans during production, and it appears this one is no different. In this case, many long-timeStar Warsdevotees will likely immediately latch onto half of the name as it shares a rather clever similarity with Blue Harvest, the one used during the production ofReturn of the Jediback in the day. It’s certainly a nice little nod to the past, but there’s more to it.
The Blue Stockings were a women-led group in the 18th century that focused on education and literature, flying against the rules of the time that informally (and often formally) forbade women from academic pursuits. This seems to drive home the series' feminist outlook, which is no accident.The Acolyteis also set to reflect the showrunner’s own queer identity, as confirmed by creator Leslye Headland since early in production. So the codename seemingly serves a double purpose, nodding to returning fans while showing newcomers that all are welcome.
This isn’t the first time in recent memory that this classicStar Warscodename has come back into play in creative ways.Family Guyfamously titled one of itsStar WarsparodiesBlue Harvest, and it’s been in the fandom’s lexicon since its original use. However, this may be among the slickest references to the codename, tying the original into a classic feminist movement to subtly tie the show’s inclusivity beyond typical straight, white characters to the franchise’s history.The Acolyteappears to have a richly diverse cast, including series star Amandla Stenberg,Logan’s Dafne Keen,The Good Place’s Manny Jacinto, andSquid Game’s Lee Jung-jae, among many others.
Those are only a few of the many new characters expected to appear inThe Acolyte. Between them andThe Acolyte’s reported Sith-led storyfeaturing mystery and intrigue inStar Wars' High Republic era, there will be a refreshing change of pace in the franchise when the premiere finally arrives. Everybody deserves to see themselves in the media they love, andThe Acolyteappears ready to make that a reality for many viewers.
