By George & Josh Bate
Nearly two years since its premiere and subsequent cancelation, The Acolyte still finds a way to pop up in the news.
In a candid and fun interview with The George Lucas Talk Show, The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland finally addressed the Ki-Adi-Mundi controversy, clarified Qimir’s Sith status, explained the role Yoda would have played in Season 2, and more.
Ki-Adi-Mundi
One of the (many) ridiculous points of controversy surrounding The Acolyte was the inclusion of Ki-Adi-Mundi, the Cerean Jedi introduced in The Phantom Menace. Certain sections of Star Wars fans alleged that Ki-Adi-Mundi’s inclusion in the series broke canon as the character would not have been alive at the time, citing the character’s birth year detailed in an obscure piece of non-canon Legends.
Headland chuckled at a question regarding Ki-Adi-Mundi’s age and went on to explain how his appearance in the show is consistent with canon.
“I asked Pablo Hidalgo,” Headland revealed. “I don’t remember what he said about the birthdate or lifespan, but Pablo said it was cool. Many many people read the script.”
Headland went on to explain that controversy surrounding Ki-Adi-Mundi’s status as a member of the Jedi High Council is similarly unfounded. “In that scene, they mention, ‘We should alert the High Council,'” Headland explained. “He says that and because of that you assume he’s not on the High Council unless he’s not gotten there. We should alert myself? [Pablo Hidalgo] said, if he’s not on the High Council, that you can use him.”
Qimir: True Sith or Imposter?
Much has been made of whether Manny Jacinto’s mysterious dark side user is indeed a Sith or a SINO (a Sith in name only). There’s been conflicting information about this point, especially in light of the release of The Art of The Acolyte, which basically confirmed Qimir would go on to create the Knights of Ren.
When asked if Qimir is a true Sith, however, Headland succinctly replied, “No.”
How do we reconcile this with information that Qimir was Plagueis’ apprentice prior to him taking on Palpatine? That’s unclear. As is why Qimir would label himself as a Sith to the Jedi if he indeed were not one.
Yoda and Vernestra Rwoh in Season 2
The Acolyte‘s final episode concludes with Vernestra Rwoh visiting Yoda soon after she made the decision to cover up Qimir’s crimes and blame them on Sol.
Headland confirmed that, if the series had moved forward, Yoda would have helped Vernestra with the cover up. “For sure. Yeah,” Headland stated. “Don’t come at me in the comments, because he does it in Clone Wars. So I don’t want to hear about it.”
Qimir’s Injuries
One of the interviewers asked Headland, “Did the Light Whip cause Qimir’s scar?” Headland replied, “Yes.”
This confirms a long-standing fan theory that the injuries on Qimir’s back, depicted in episode 6 of the series, were incurred as a result of a duel between Qimir and his former master Vernestra Rwoh.
Did Mother Koril survive?
Mother Koril’s fate was left up for interpretation in the flashback episodes 3 and 7 of The Acolyte. However, Headland confirmed in the new interview that Koril indeed lived.
This means that the Zabrak witch played by Daredevil: Born Again star Margarita Levieva lived to see another day and, given her pre-existing hostile attitude the Jedi, is likely even more enraged following the actions of Indara, Sol, and company that led to the death of her clan.
Evoking George Lucas’ Original Star Wars On Set
Determined to have her series evoke the core of George Lucas’ original ideas for a galaxy far, far away, Leslye Headland revealed that she would yell “Modesto,” George Lucas’ birthplace, on set to remind everyone to always think of what George Lucas envisioned for Star Wars.
“I would yell it to everyone..Ready let’s go…I just started yelling Modesto.”
A Question About Plagueis for George Lucas
Leslye Headland posed a question to George Lucas (well, not actually George Lucas but a George Lucas impersonator) on the show about the iconic opera scene from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
“Do you feel that, in Revenge of the Sith during the Sperm Opera, when Palpatine says that Plagueis could create life, is he lying or is he telling the truth?” asked Headland.
Headland was certainly toying with ideas of creating life through the Force in The Acolyte. The origins of the twins Osha and Mae were shrouded in mystery, but it was clear that the two came about without a father and through some intervention of the Force, much like Anakin Skywalker. If the series had continued, we suspect Headland would have eventually connected Osha and Mae’s origins to Anakin’s and perhaps explained that Darth Plagueis learned of the ability to create life through his studies of Osha and Mae.