Lucasfilm has decided not to move forward with a second season of The Acolyte, a Star Wars series featuring Amandla Stenberg, according to sources. This follows the conclusion of the show’s first season, which consisted of eight episodes and wrapped up over a month ago on Disney+.
The show’s reception was mixed; it garnered a 78% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes but had a polarized response from Star Wars fans, which was reflected in its viewership numbers. Despite strong initial interest, The Acolyte’s viewership declined over time. It debuted on June 4 with 4.8 million views on its first day, making it Disney+’s biggest series premiere of the year. By the fifth day, it had reached a total of 11.1 million views worldwide. The series also made it onto Nielsen’s Top 10 original shows chart, peaking at number 6 in its second week.
However, The Acolyte’s viewership dropped out of the Top 10 by the third week and only made a brief return at number 10 after the finale aired, recording what is believed to be the lowest viewership for a Star Wars series finale. Like other major streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video, Disney+ has stringent criteria for renewing high-budget series, which typically require significant viewership numbers.
Creator Leslye Headland had previously expressed her hopes for a second season and discussed her ideas for it in interviews. Meanwhile, Lucasfilm’s flagship series, The Mandalorian, continues to thrive and is set to cross into feature films with The Mandalorian & Grogu. The Ahsoka series, which aired after The Acolyte, has already been renewed for a second season.
The Acolyte was a mystery-thriller set in the final days of the High Republic era, following a former Padawan who teams up with her Jedi Master to investigate mysterious crimes. The cast included notable actors such as Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, and Carrie-Anne Moss, among others.