Summary
- The Acolyte introduces the first live-action Wookiee Jedi, Kelnacca, breaking George Lucas’ original rule against Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars lore.
- Lucas eventually went back on his own rule by including the animated Wookiee Jedi named Gungi, though he still held off on including them in live-action.
- Through The Acolyte’s portrayal of a Wookiee Jedi, depth is added to the Jedi Order of the High Republic Era, while offering compelling story potential and expanding the Star Wars universe.
The Acolyte‘s Wookiee Jedi breaks one of the oldest rules formed by Star Wars creator George Lucas. Set in Star Wars’ High Republic Era, The Acolyte takes place around 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. This means that the show adds a lot to the earliest parts of Star Wars’ chronological timeline, aligning with the canon stories told in the multimedia initiative of The High Republic.
Furthermore, The Acolyte serves as a prequel to George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, exploring the rise of Sith-aligned power that led to the emergence of the Galactic Empire. The Acolyte‘s cast of characters is placed at the center of this story, thus meaning they feed heavily into the story, themes, and depiction of the galaxy shown in Lucas’ prequels. Although The Acolyte slots seamlessly into the Star Wars timeline, the inclusion of one specific character proves the show is going against one of Lucas’ oldest rules for the Star Wars saga.
Related
Star Wars: Every Major Event Of The High Republic Era
The High Republic Era is full of significant events, both for the Jedi Order and the Republic it sought to protect long before the prequels.
George Lucas Forbade Wookiee Jedi (For A Time)
The Concept Of Wookiee Jedi Was Something Lucas Did Not Wish To Focus On
The rule in question is that, for a time, George Lucas denied the creation of Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars. In The Acolyte, one of the show’s main characters goes directly against this rule. This character is Kelnacca, a Wookiee Jedi who is central to the plot of The Acolyte‘s Jedi murders and a well-respected Master in the High Republic’s Jedi ranks.
Master Kelnacca is portrayed by Joonas Suotamo, the actor who took over the role of Chewbacca from Peter Mayhew in the Disney era of Star Wars.
Kelnacca will be the first Wookiee Jedi ever depicted in live-action Star Wars, proving how deep-rooted George Lucas’ rule went. Despite live-action Star Wars consisting of several stories over four decades, Wookiee Jedi have remained absent until the story of The Acolyte. That said, The Acolyte is not completely rejecting Lucas’ vision, as the director did become more lenient about the concept over time. Eventually, Lucas approved Star Wars’ Wookiee Jedi Gungi, who appeared in animated projects like The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch.
Star Wars Has Officially Given Up On Lucas’ Wookiee Jedi Rule
Force-Sensitive Wookiees Are Now A Part Of Star Wars Lore
Thanks to Gungi’s reappearance in Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Kelnacca’s role in The Acolyte, Lucas’ Wookiee Jedi rule has been completely shattered. For some, this may seem like flagrant disrespect of Lucas’ vision despite the director reversing the rule himself in The Clone Wars. However, the rule was admittedly thin upon its creation, with Lucas never providing any compelling reason as to why Wookiee Jedi could not be created.
Related
Star Wars: The Acolyte’s Wookiee Jedi Explained: Who Is Kelnacca?
Jedi Master Kelnacca is the first Wookiee Jedi ever depicted in live-action Star Wars, but there’s so much more to his character and personality.
Given the flimsy foundations of Lucas’ forbidden Jedi rule, Star Wars reversing this makes a lot of sense. Moreover, the story potential that is raised with Wookiee Jedi is incredibly compelling. Gungi became a fan-favorite Star Wars character fairly quickly, and many are excited to see more of Kelnacca in The Acolyte. Seeing a Star Wars species that is not typically associated with the Force being a Jedi will always be intriguing, something the High Republic understands. Through The Acolyte, Star Wars’ first live-action Wookiee Jedi is here, breaking Lucas’ rule and, hopefully, paving the way for many more.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes – all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
- Cast
- Dafne Keen , Lee Jung-jae , Amandla Stenberg , Jodie Turner-Smith , Joonas Suotamo , Carrie-Anne Moss , Margarita Levieva , Charlie Barnett , Dean-Charles Chapman
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Leslye Headland , Charmaine De Grate , Kor Adana
- Directors
- Leslye Headland , Alex Garcia Lopez
- Showrunner
- Leslye Headland