Out of the number of new Star Wars projects that were announced last December, Leslye Headland's The Acolyte arguably remains the most mysterious. We do know that the Disney+ series will be set during the final days of the High Republic and explore “a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers,” but we really don't have much more to go on.
It looks like some official announcements might be imminent, however, as the show is reportedly very close to signing its lead.
According to The Illuminerdi - who have made a habit of beating the trades to some big stories of late - Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give, The Darkest Minds) is in "advanced negotiations" to play the main character in the show. No details on their role were provided, but a previous rumor indicated that the Sith Acolyte of the title be named Aura (this could be a codename).
Stenberg, who identifies as non-binary, will be best known to Hunger Games fans as the tragic Rue, but they have also appeared in the likes of The Hate U Give, Where Hands Touch, Everything, Everything, and The Darkest Minds. More recently, they played a key role in Dear Evan Hansen.
Production on The Acolyte is expected to commence next Summer in London. We're hearing the first season will consist of eight episodes, but that's yet to be confirmed.
UPDATE: Variety has now confirmed the report.
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Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.