Disney+’s 8-Part Sci-Fi Fantasy Series Could’ve Launched An Entire Cinematic Universe

Disney+’s science fiction and fantasy series Star Wars: The Acolyte could have become its own cinematic universe if things went differently. Disney+ has plenty of great fantasy and science fiction shows, from Star Wars shows like Andor to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. While those are great, very few shows have the potential to spawn new cinematic universes of their own instead of simply continuing existing ones.

One show, however, did have the potential to create a new franchise; The Acolyte. The Acolyte is an eight-episode mystery thriller set in the galaxy of Star Wars. It follows Osha and Mae, two twins with dark and secretive ties to the Force and a group of Jedi. Despite what some will say, The Acolyte was actually an enjoyable show, but it’s real value was in introducing fans to what could have been the next big era of Star Wars: the High Republic.

The Acolyte Brought The High Republic Era Of Star Wars Into Live-Action

The Acolyte was unique for a number of reasons, but the most important was that it brought the High Republic era of Star Wars into live-action. The High Republic era was originally a publishing effort by Star Wars that explored the galaxy far, far away as it was hundreds of years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Dozens of books, comics, and even an animated series were made before The Acolyte brought it into live action.

The High Republic Era gave The Acolyte a very interesting setting to play in. During this part of the Star Wars timeline, the Sith were thought to be extinct, the Galactic Republic was in an era of (relative) peace and prosperity, and the Jedi were at the absolute height of their power across the galaxy. It was Star Wars like we’ve never seen on film or television, but it didn’t last.

The Acolyte was immediately divisive as soon as it came out. Some fans took exception to perceived problems with the show’s lore, such as the inclusion of Ki-Adi-Mundi and the way Mother Aniseya manipulated the Force. Because of that division it caused in the fan community, The Acolyte was canceled after its first season. The story of Osha, Mae, and the Stranger will likely never be resolved on screen.

If it hadn’t been as divisive as it was, The Acolyte could have been the first of many live-action stories set in the High Republic. If it was more of a success, Disney and Lucasfilm may have even made it a smaller franchise under the Star Wars umbrella, akin to the “Mandoverse.” There was even potential for it to jump from the small screen to the movie theater, the same way The Mandalorian and Grogu has.

The High Republic Era Has So Much To Offer Star Wars

It’s a shame that The Acolyte was as divisive as it proved to be, because it wasn’t a proper representation of all that the High Republic has to offer. The High Republic as presented in various books and comics is one of the most brilliant bits of Star Wars storytelling in decades. There are so many novel ideas, fascinating views on the Force, new creatures and bits of lore, and more that made it an extremely worthwhile part of Star Wars.

To list just a few of the High Republic’s strengths, both the Nihil, a group of space pirates that can manipulate hyperspace itself, and the Path of the Open Hand, a religious group with a deep hatred of the Jedi, were fantastic villains. Seeing the galaxy far, far away at a time of relative peace also completely recontextualizes the Star Wars movies and provides such a great framework for Palpatine’s rise to power.

The High Republic also gave Star Wars a blank slate to tell a completely new story. So many modern Star Wars stories are tied to the Skywalker saga in general, and more specifically the Galactic Empire. The High Republic isn’t. It doesn’t have to fit into any established lore or tiptoe around legacy characters like Luke Skywalker. That allowed the High Republic to come up with its own cast of compelling characters and grow into essentially a new franchise.

The Acolyte Shouldn’t Dissuade Disney From Exploring The High Republic Further

The fact is that the High Republic simply has too much to offer Star Wars for The Acolyte to stop any plans of exploring it. The High Republic is the perfect way to revitalize Star Wars, to shake things up for a new generation of fans. It has unlimited potential, much more so than the sequel trilogy does, and it hasn’t been overdone like the original and prequel trilogies have.

Just because The Acolyte was divisive doesn’t mean that Disney should throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. The Acolyte had its own problems, like pacing issues and a lack of focus, that weren’t a result of its place in the timeline. The Acolyte wasn’t the best representation of all the things the High Republic can offer Star Wars, but I’m afraid Disney and Lucasfilm have gotten the wrong idea.

I would love to see a new show set in a different part of the High Republic. Viewers could be introduced to a new chapter of the Nihil conflict, or to a chapter of the conflict with the Path of the Open Hand. Star Wars could even come up with a wholly new conflict to base a story around; there are several hundred years separating the different phases and The Acolyte. Whatever it is, I just hope the High Republic can live on in live-action.