Star Wars: The Acolyte is in a vein of classic wuxia films

The Acolyte

The Acolyte series is 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. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated. 

“So I actually went more toward martial arts films, and storylines that are a little bit more personal and less global and galactic. Those warriors were on missions that were deeply personal, with people feeling wronged and having to make it right. Wuxia films and martial arts films from King Hu and the Shaw Brothers, like ‘Come Drink With Me’ and ‘Touch Of Zen.’ They’re monks that are also martial arts heroes,” showrunner Leslye Headland told Vanity Fair.

The full cast of The Acolyte series icludes Lee Jung-jae, Amandla Steinberg, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman and Carrie-Anne Moss.

The Acolyte premieres on Disney+ June 4th.

Watch the trailer below.