Jodie Turner-Smith Joins New Star Wars Series The Acolyte for Creator Leslye Headland and Disney Plus
Nearly two years after it was first announced, the new Star Wars television series The Acolyte has a new cast member, Jodie Turner-Smith.
The 35-year-old actress is finalizing a deal to join Amandla Stenberg on the series, via Deadline.
Stenberg joined the series in December, though no details about her character or Turner-Smith’s character have emerged.
New Role: Nearly two years after it was first announced, the new Star Wars television series The Acolyte has a new cast member, Jodie Turner-Smith; seen on August 31 in Venice
The show was first announced in April 2020, when Headland came on board to headline the show.
It was described as “a female-centric series that takes place in a different part of the Star Wars timeline than other projects.”
Disney officially announced the project in December 2020, describing The Acolyte as “a mystery thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.”
New addition: The 35-year-old actress is finalizing a deal to join Amandla Stenberg on the series, via Deadline
Announced: Disney officially announced the project in December 2020, describing The Acolyte as “a mystery thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of dark secrets and emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.” “.
The High Republic Era in Star Wars lore takes place roughly 200 years before the Skywalker era in the original Star Wars movies.
The High Republic Era was largely a time of peace, where the Jedi order prospered and believed that the Sith had been extinct for centuries.
The Acolyte title likely refers to the Acolyte Program, a government program designed to find young Force-sensitives to become Sith Acolytes for the Galactic Empire, training under a Sith Lord.
Era: The High Republic Era in Star Wars lore takes place approximately 200 years before the Skywalker era in the original Star Wars films; seen on monday in venice
Production on The Acolyte is scheduled to begin in London in late fall, though it’s unclear when they might be considering a release.
Headland will create the series and serve as executive producer, though no further details on the creative staff were released.
Headland is also known as a director, with movies (Bachelorette, Sleeping With Other People) and TV (Russian Doll, Single Drunk Female) to her credit.
Production: Production on The Acolyte is scheduled to begin in London in late fall, though it’s unclear when they might be considering a release; seen on sunday in venice
It’s unclear if Headland will direct the pilot episode or any other episodes from the show’s first season.
Turner-Smith earned rave reviews for playing Queen in 2019’s Queen & Slim, opposite Daniel Kaluuya.
She also starred in Amazon’s Without Remorse with Michael B. Jordan and played the title character in the AMC miniseries Anne Boleyn, and will next be seen in Murder Mystery 2 and The Independent.
Praise: Turner-Smith earned rave reviews for playing Queen in 2019’s Queen & Slim, opposite Daniel Kaluuya; seen on sunday in venice
Coming Soon: She also starred in Amazon’s Without Remorse with Michael B. Jordan and played the title character in the AMC miniseries Anne Boleyn, and will next be seen in Murder Mystery 2 and The Independent; seen on sunday in venice
