The Acolyte split opinions even before it premiered on Disney+ in 2024. The series was also a target of apparent review-bombing in the days leading up to its release, while female and non-white cast members faced online abuse and trolling.
The show took some bold, undeniably controversial swings with Star Wars lore, and that's always a risk for a franchise this beloved. The idea was to reveal how the Force could lead to the immaculate conception of a child—tying into Anakin Skywalker's creation—and to fill in some big gaps in Star Wars history. That latter point included the live-action debut of Darth Plagueis in the finale, setting up a potentially very exciting Season 2.
We know that showrunner Leslye Headland had gathered writers for a second batch of episodes, and according to Knight Edge Media (via SFFGazette.com), a bible for Seasons 2 and 3 had been written, along with short outlines for each episode.
These details about what was planned for The Acolyte Season 2 confirm that Headland had more grand ambitions for this Galaxy Far, Far Away.
According to the report, the series would have picked up one year after the events of Season 1. The premiere was set to open with Osha "in a gladiator ring run by the Hutts," with Qimir's apprentice ultimately slaying a Hutt named Brigo.
The Jedi Order discovered what happened and turned to Mae—whom Yoda has trained to track Osha through the Force—to help them find Osha before she fully embraces the Dark Side. Yoda was also set to have a Padawan, Cohli, with Lucasfilm planning to cast a South Asian actress in the role.
The site adds, "Qimir works directly for Darth Plagueis and does his bidding. Throughout the season, Qimir (and, by extension, Osha) is tasked with assassinating multiple other figures besides the Hutt in service of Darth Plagueis. They are revealed to be just pawns in a large conspiracy, much like Vader killing the Separatists in The Revenge of the Sith."
Flashbacks were set to explore Qimir's origin from his perspective in one episode, and from Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh's in another. The Stranger's new base of operations would have been "a mansion on the same planet from season 1 instead of a cave, with a snarky droid servant."
Where things get really interesting, though, is that, "During a gala, Darth Plagueis appears as a normal-looking hologram to the guests but is secretly inside like a vampire-type monster hidden deep in the mansion's shadows. Plagueis is constantly trying to have Qimir bring him Osha. However, Qimir refuses, and the two ultimately fight, with Qimir beaten to within an inch of his life."
"Osha saves him and brings him to a Force deprivation pool...Star Wars would have its first on-screen 'sexual' experience on screen with Osha and Qimir. The two would be in the pool together, finally let their guard down, and then their spirits/consciousness would become one with the Force sensually." With that, they'd have become more than Master and Apprentice heading into the planned Season 3.
It's always fun to think what might have been, and love or hate the series, it's arguably a shame The Acolyte was cut off at the knees so soon. As of now, there's been nothing to indicate these characters—or the High Republic Era—will be revisited in any way.
The Acolyte is now streaming on Disney+.