Highlights

  • Star Wars: The Acolyte introduces a brand-new lightsaber design, promising a fresh take on the iconic weapon.
  • Creator Leslye Headland reveals exciting surprises in store for fans, including unique lightsabers and new characters.
  • The series delves into the High Republic Era, unraveling dark mysteries and crimes with former Jedi reuniting to investigate.



Star Wars: The Acolyte promises to breathe new life into the cherished franchise. As the series premieres, an exciting revelation has emerged: there is one more surprise in store for Star Wars fans.

After much anticipation, fans can finally explore new realms within the Star Wars universe with the premiere of the eagerly awaited TV series, Star Wars: The Acolyte. While the series’ secrets remain undisclosed, its creator has revealed an exciting surprise awaiting fans. That surprise being a brand-new lightsaber design.

In a recent interview with Rotten Tomatoes, The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland unveiled that the series has even more surprises in store for Star Wars fans than initially anticipated. Headland disclosed that the series will introduce a wholly original lightsaber, unlike anything seen before. Contrary to speculation about the purple lightwhip glimpsed in one of the trailers, this lightsaber is a creation of Headland herself.



Headland explained that she wanted a lightsaber that would function “in a particular way” for The Acolyte. While she did not specify the exact nature of this functionality, she clarified that it was not the lightwhip seen previously, which intrigued many fans. She approached the prop department, the same team responsible for crafting lightsabers for the sequels and other Star Wars series. Initially, her idea was rejected because it was deemed unworkable.



Undeterred, Headland persisted, pleading with the department not to give up on her vision just yet. Fortunately, the skilled craftsmen of the prop department were able to “make her dream come true.” This anecdote underscores Headland’s dedication and determination to realize her vision, especially when it comes to her brainchild, The Acolyte. She also praised the entire design department involved in the series, highlighting that for her, it was not just about being part of the Star Wars universe and “playing with lightsabers.” Instead, she wanted to collaborate with designers and the broader creative team to bring this story to life.

In addition to the new lightsaber introduced by Headland, the trailer for The Acolyte also reveals another intriguing addition to the franchise: the lightwhip. Described as heavily modified lightsaber variants with one or multiple flexible blades, the lightwhip adds a dynamic element to the series. In the trailer, Vernestra Rwoh wields a purple lightwhip, surprising viewers with its presence. The lightwhip has a rich history within the Star Wars lore, with notable wielders like Sith Lord Githany and Sith Lady Lumiya. Besides Rwoh, characters such as Ona Nobis and Vianna D’Pow are also known for their proficiency with the lightwhip. Recently, The Acolyte teased fans with promotional materials featuring lightsabers on social media. These included two distinctly different lightsabers — one Jedi and one Sith — each reflecting their respective ideologies through their color. While not confirmed, speculation suggests that the blue lightsaber belongs to Master Sol, while the red one might belong to the mysterious Sith Lord featured in the trailers. As anticipation builds, fans eagerly await the premiere of Star Wars: The Acolyte, where they can immerse themselves in these new elements and explore the depths of the Star Wars universe once more.


The first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte are now available on Disney Plus.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes (via @CultureCrave) | Twitter