Why fans of cancelled Star Wars show The Acolyte think it might make a comeback

Hopeful fans of Disney’s Star Wars cancelled series, The Acolyte, are theorising that the show may return.

The Acolyte was unusual in that it was set much further back than most Star Wars stories: 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. The show investigates the dark forces behind a series of Jedi murders.

The Star Wars show quickly gained traction for its diverse, LGBTQ+ cast. Impressively, the eight-part show also welcomed the first out trans actor to the Star Wars franchise, Abigail Thorn. 

Originally, showrunner Leslye Headland pitched the show as a multi-season project. However, the show was cancelled after just one season.

Now, fans are theorising that the show may be making a comeback. FlixPatrol reported that two years after the show’s cancellation, the sci-fi series is back in the streaming charts.

The Acolyte has re-emerged in Disney+’s Top 10 TV Shows chart for no clear reason. The series is currently sitting ninth on the charts.

Some have theorised that the recent release of Maul – Shadow Lord may have piqued interest in The Acolyte.

Fans of the show have long campaigned for Lucasfilm to revisit the project – this could be the first step towards that goal.

However, Lucasfilm has dialled back Star Wars projects for Disney+ in recent years. Instead, the focus has been on cinematic releases, like The Mandalorian & Grogu.

‘The Acolyte is still one of the best Star Wars shows’

Though it’s been two years since the show ended, fans are still posting about their love for the series. 

“The Acolyte is still one of the best Star Wars shows like wow,” one fan posted.

Another also added: “I saw every episode of Star Wars The Acolyte and Loved it. Sure hope it makes a comeback.”

Some even claim the show is better than other Star Wars productions: “I don’t get The Acolyte hate. It was better than TLJ, ROS, and Boba Fett.”

Despite the series developing a devoted fandom, it never secured a second season. Yet the series, which was branded the “gayest Star Wars yet” and dubbed “The Woke-alyte”, broke Disney+ streaming records. 

At the time, TVLine reported that the first episode garnered 11.1 million views across the first five days of streaming. The series beat Disney+ competitors, including Doctor Who, Marvel’s Echo and X-Men ’97, during its premiere.

However, as is sadly to be expected with a show that forges forward with LGBTQ+ representation on screen, The Acolyte was review-bombed. Forbes reported that low approval rates were linked to the “racism, misogyny and overall harassment of the cast, which has poisoned every conversation about this show.”

As the debut season’s finale aired, there were rumours about a potential season two.

Before the cancellation, Headland teased that “there are conversations” happening behind the scenes about renewing the show, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

“I don’t know when that decision will be made,” she said.

So, though there’s no official word on The Acolyte’s comeback, fans are keeping their fingers crossed.