A new Star Wars TV series means a crop of fresh faces — but who are the Jedi in The Acolyte?
The Star Wars timeline is about to get even bigger and perhaps a little more complicated thanks to The Acolyte, which is set to follow a group of Jedi in a completely new way.
Taking the galaxy in a different direction with the introduction of “Force-fu,” the Disney Plus series boasts epic hand-to-hand combat as its characters try to solve a series of dubious murders.
Set to be one of the best new TV shows of the year, its first two episodes dropped on June 4 — so, here’s a rundown of the Jedi you need to know in The Acolyte. Warning: spoilers ahead.
Osha
Jedi rank: Padawan
Unlike her twin sister Mae, Osha joined the Jedi Order as Sol’s padawan. However, she left the order six years before the beginning of The Acolyte, and it’s currently unclear as to why.
These days, she works as a mechanic on different ship jobs, and she seems content enough with her present-day work. Osha also appears to have some kind of history with Yord, having known him since they were younglings.
Osha is one of The Acolyte’s characters who has been created solely for the show, so you won’t have seen her in any Star Wars movies or existing lore.
However, fans might recognize actress Amandla Stenberg from roles in The Hate U Give, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and her voice from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Speaking to Empire Magazine, Stenberg revealed that the inspiration for the twins is a “mixture of Frozen and Kill Bill.”
“I can tell you about some of the references that were important to us — one of them was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I did about seven weeks of martial arts training with my master,” she continued.
Sol
Jedi rank: Jedi master
Another character created solely (pun unintended) for the show, Jedi Master Sol is at the other end of the crime spree that took place in 132 BBY. He’s in charge of investigating what happened, having been estranged from his former Padawan Mae.
Sol originally taught his group of Jedi younglings in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He wears white robes with a golden trim and a brown cloak, wielding a blue-bladed lightsaber. His teachings are thought to be centered on the principle of the eyes being unable to be trusted.
Having learned English exclusively for his role in The Acolyte, fans will know actor Lee Jung-jae from his starring role in Squid Game. He’s been a fan of Star Wars since he was 12 years old and describes Sol as “a Jedi who has a lot of combat experience. He’s a teacher to the Jedi Younglings as well. And he comes across a series of mysterious events, and follows what unfolds.”
Jecki Lon
Jedi rank: Padawan
A Theelin-human hybrid who is described as calm and mature for her age, Jecki is another of Jedi Master Sol’s Padawans, while also being brand-new to the franchise.
However, according to showrunner Leslye Headland, creating a Theelin character was at the top of her agenda, taking reference from Rystáll Sant in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. “There were certain things that I really wanted to do. You’ll see a half-Theelin, half-human Jedi, Jecki, played by Dafne Keen, which was always a dream of mine,” she told the Star Wars website.
As of writing, it’s unclear how Jecki will fit into The Acolyte’s unfolding murders — including which side she’ll take.
Dafne Keen is known for her roles in Logan and His Dark Materials prior to starring in the upcoming Star Wars TV show.
Yord Fandar
Jedi rank: Jedi Knight
Closely associated with the Jedi Order, Yord Fandar is a brand-new Knight to add to the existing ranks. He’s seemingly kept quite traditional, wearing brown Jedi robes with gold accents, and wielding a lightsaber with a yellow blade.
He’s one of the 10,000 or so Knights who fought during the High Republic Era, though exactly how Yord fits into the bigger picture remains to be seen.
Star Wars fans might know actor Charlie Barnett from previous roles in Chicago Fire, Russian Doll, and Tales of the City.
Vernestra Rwoh
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Jedi rank: Jedi Master
Of course, there had to be one Star Wars character who would be making an appearance from previous projects, with Vernestra Rwoh carrying across from The High Republic books. Though she’s been featured in various novels and stories, the role hasn’t been realized onscreen until now.
Vernestra is the former Padawan of Jedi Master Stellan Gios and was promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight at the age of fifteen — making her the youngest Jedi to hold that rank in a good while.
A year later, she joined a party traveling on the starship Steady Wing to the Starlight Beacon, taking on Imri Cantaros as a Padawan after facing off against the Nihil. She was on Eiram at the time of the destruction of the Starlight Beacon, becoming a Wayseeker after losing faith in the Jedi Council.
Vernestra later returned to fighting to search for Cantaros when Starros came to her for help.
Headland said: “I’m just so excited for people to see her in this show because she is so different. She’s very rarely in the mission robes adventuring and dreaming. I think, as the show goes on, you’ll understand why.”
Actress Rebecca Henderson told Total Film: “I don’t want to use the word ‘badass,’ but Vernestra is such a badass. She’s a revered Jedi Master. The series is set about 100 years on from when we’ve seen Vernestra [in other High Republic media], so she’s certainly an elder, who thinks she’s seen it all.”
Henderson can also be seen in They Remain, Appropriate Behaviour, and Single Drunk Female.
Indara
Jedi rank: Jedi Master
The final Jedi created for The Acolyte might be the most exciting, with The Matrix star Carrie-Anne Moss taking up the role of Jedi Master Indara. Indara was stationed on Osha and Mae’s home planet, taking up residence in Ueda in later years.
Headland told Empire Magazine that the Jedi Master is essentially “Trinity with a lightsaber,” with the decision to cast Moss in the role a “no-brainer.”
“I personally wanted to see someone who had the highest status you could imagine in a Force-fu fight – somebody that would come in and you immediately would be like, ‘Oh, that’s the most powerful Jedi in the room.’ And that’s Trinity,” she added.
Moss also added: “We meet her in a mysterious way, and initially through a very powerful fight. She’s very physically strong, she’s very mentally strong. I loved a lot of things about her. But [particularly] the containment. I love that word. I love words. And that word, ‘containment’ – even just saying it, I can feel what I had to access to play her.
“You’re fighting against so much to keep it right here, but also to have the power. When you have power through containment, that’s my sweet spot. This was, I think, one of the most contained characters I’ve ever played.”
Indara is killed by Mae in Episode 1 of The Acolyte.
Torbin
Jedi rank: Jedi Master
Another of the Jedi Masters stationed on Brendok, Torbin has remained on Olega in a local Jedi Temple in a meditative state. According to other temple staff, Torbin hasn’t spoken to anyone else in a decade but the time we meet him.
After giving Torbin the choice of “confessing his crimes” to the Jedi Council or being killed, Torbin opts to take the poisonous potion from her, killing him in Episode 2.
Actor Dean-Charles Chapman can also be seen in 1917, The King and Game of Thrones.
Kelnacca
Jedi rank: Jedi Master
Just like Yoda before him, Kelnacca is the non-human Jedi Master in The Acolyte. A Wookiee who lives in the jungles of Khofar, he’s introduced in early episodes — although it’s not currently clear how involved he will be in the series.
Where most Jedi are directly connected to the Order, Kelnecca lives completely in isolation.
Kelnacca is played by Joonas Suotamo, who previously played the Wookiee Chewbacca in the sequel trilogy and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Continue to jump into hyperspace with everything we know about the Andor Season 2 release date and Tales of the Jedi Season 2. You can also read our Star Wars The Acolyte explained guide for more specific details.
Find even more amazing new movies and TV shows streaming this month, or dive into all the new true crime documentaries around right now. If that’s not enough, find out what’s in store this year for K-dramas coming to Netflix.