After only one season, “The Acolyte” is set to be canceled already. Lucasfilm is discontinuing the series from the “Star Wars” universe – just a month after Season 1 concluded on Disney+. The American industry magazine “Deadline” reports, citing an anonymous source.
According to “Deadline,” the cancellation of “The Acolyte” is not surprising. The audience response is said to have been unsatisfactory . Disney+ has not released official figures; streaming services typically only provide numbers in the case of success.
Significant drop in streaming numbers after a strong start
The US company Nielsen, which also measures ratings for TV shows, stated that 335 million minutes were streamed of the last episode of the first season within a week. According to Nielsen, this would be the weakest finale of a “Star Wars” series on Disney+.
The show started off well with “The Acolyte.” The first double episode was reportedly watched 4.8 million times at its debut on June 4, 2024 – the best launch of a Disney+ series in the current year. However, it then went downhill.
Praised by critics, controversial among “Star Wars” fans
“The Acolyte” received good reviews from critics. However, the series is controversial among “Star Wars” fans. Many believe that the series strays too far from the pure doctrine, the official canon, and is too “woke” due to its diverse cast.
The main character is played by the non-binary identifying Amandla Stenberg (25), who stated that she faced racist comments due to her role. Stenberg portrays the young Osha, who investigates a series of murders of Jedis with the experienced Jedi Master Sol (“Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae, 51). Other roles include Charlie Barnett (36, “Chicago Fire”) and “Matrix” star Carrie-Anne Moss (56).