Lucasfilm has decided not to move forward with a second season of “The Acolyte,” a “Star Wars” spin-off series that starred Amandla Stenberg.
This news comes from sources reported by Deadline, more than a month after the first season, which consisted of eight episodes, concluded on Disney+.
The series was created, directed, and executive produced by Leslye Headland, who also served as the showrunner.
Despite any expectations for continuation, the decision has been made to not proceed with further episodes.
The decision to not continue “The Acolyte” with a second season isn’t entirely unexpected. While the show performed reasonably well with critics, garnering a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it polarized the “Star Wars” fan base, which impacted its overall viewership.
The series, driven by interest in the beloved space saga, had a strong start when it premiered on June 4 with two episodes, attracting 4.8 million views on its first day, making it the biggest series premiere on Disney+ this year.
Within five days, the viewership had climbed to 11.1 million globally. The series also made its debut on Nielsen’s Top 10 originals chart at No. 7 during its premiere week, with 488 million minutes viewed, and rose to No. 6 the following week.
Despite this initial success, the mixed reception among fans likely contributed to the decision not to pursue a second season.
Despite its strong start, “The Acolyte” struggled to maintain its momentum, dropping out of the Nielsen Top 10 originals chart in its third week and remaining off the list until it briefly reappeared at No. 10 after the finale, which garnered 335 million minutes viewed. This number is believed to be the lowest for a “Star Wars” series finale.
Disney+, like other major streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video, has a high viewership threshold for renewing expensive, high-budget series, especially those costing over $100 million per season.
The decline in viewership and mixed reception among fans likely contributed to Lucasfilm’s decision not to renew “The Acolyte” for a second season, as it didn’t meet the necessary performance metrics to justify the significant production costs.
Leslye Headland, the creator, director, and showrunner of “The Acolyte,” had expressed her enthusiasm for a second season, even pitching ideas in hopes of securing a renewal.
However, despite her efforts, Lucasfilm has decided not to proceed with a continuation of the series.
In contrast, other “Star Wars” series on Disney+ have fared better. “The Mandalorian,” Lucasfilm’s first and most successful Disney+ series to date, continues to thrive and is expanding into feature films with the upcoming “The Mandalorian & Grogu.”
Additionally, “Ahsoka,” the series that preceded “The Acolyte,” has been renewed for a second season, indicating stronger reception and viewership that justified its continuation.
These successful series highlight the high standards and expectations that Disney+ has for renewing its big-budget productions.
“The Acolyte” was a mystery-thriller set in the final days of the High Republic era, a period long before the events of the main “Star Wars” saga.
The series explored a galaxy filled with shadowy secrets and the rise of dark-side powers.
The story followed a former Padawan who reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, only to find themselves up against far more sinister forces than they had ever anticipated.
The show featured a star-studded cast, including Amandla Stenberg in the lead role, alongside Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Despite the intriguing premise and talented ensemble, the series faced challenges in sustaining viewership, leading to Lucasfilm’s decision not to move forward with a second season.
