100 signatures reached
To: Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney
Star Wars Ep Emergency — Save Star Wars: The Acolyte
Dear Lucasfilm,
On behalf of the Star Wars Community, we High Republic fans would love nothing more than to receive a revival and/or continuation of The Acolyte whether in a second season or a film. What you had accomplished within its first season was a refreshing, bold, unapologetically experimental piece that challenged the fundamental principles of Star Wars and allowed us to think about familiar concepts through different avenues. The vibrancy, characters, choreography (the best and most on par we have seen from you since the prequel trilogy), the captivating dissection of the Ashla (Light) and Bogan (Dark) being one in the same in the POV of the Sith, makes this project so unique to our favorite galaxy far far away. The future Acolyte continuation that you had set up in its spectacular final episode through the Darth Plageius reveal, Vernestra and Qimir’s history, Osha becoming the Acolyte, Mae potentially becoming a Jedi and taking Osha’s place. All of which had so much going for it. Which is why, we beg you not to waste the potential of this amazing series.
We implore you to continue the narrative of the Acolyte on the small and/or big screen, and fully realize this brilliant story that you were telling from a time period within Star Wars that had yet to blossom in live-action.
On behalf of the Star Wars Community, we High Republic fans would love nothing more than to receive a revival and/or continuation of The Acolyte whether in a second season or a film. What you had accomplished within its first season was a refreshing, bold, unapologetically experimental piece that challenged the fundamental principles of Star Wars and allowed us to think about familiar concepts through different avenues. The vibrancy, characters, choreography (the best and most on par we have seen from you since the prequel trilogy), the captivating dissection of the Ashla (Light) and Bogan (Dark) being one in the same in the POV of the Sith, makes this project so unique to our favorite galaxy far far away. The future Acolyte continuation that you had set up in its spectacular final episode through the Darth Plageius reveal, Vernestra and Qimir’s history, Osha becoming the Acolyte, Mae potentially becoming a Jedi and taking Osha’s place. All of which had so much going for it. Which is why, we beg you not to waste the potential of this amazing series.
We implore you to continue the narrative of the Acolyte on the small and/or big screen, and fully realize this brilliant story that you were telling from a time period within Star Wars that had yet to blossom in live-action.
Why is this important?
Lucasfilm used to be a company that went against the grain of your typical Hollywood socialites who just wanted more of the same. Lucasfilm used to follow through with the stories that they wanted to tell in a very unapologetic way, even if the people around the me were telling them “it’s not going to work”. Lucasfilm always found a way to make it work and reach an audience. They used to be the rebels of the film industry. They didn’t submit to traditionalism. George Lucas allowed anyone who worked on the galaxy far far away to essentially have free reign to sprout their creative flow and put their own stamp on Star Wars, because he understood that a story needs nurturing. Stories need to be brave and challenging even if others disagree. They need to bring something people never thought they needed until watching that specific project within Star Wars. And that was The Acolyte. Most importantly: the greatest thing about the Acolyte was its separation from the Skywalker royal family and focusing on completely different characters, environments, and conflicts that expanded our understanding of the universe we know and love. The Acolyte had a refreshing nature about it where we saw Lucasfilm do something original and bring that spark of boldness that they’ve always been known for.
Star Wars wouldn’t be here today if George Lucas just accepted the dominant level of “we don’t believe in your vision” that a New Hope first received. Star Wars wouldn’t be Star Wars without George Lucas’ experimenting and going against what typical Hollywood was doing. We often forget this, but Star Wars wasn’t a guaranteed success at first. It had to work and be unapologetically itself to get to the be the royal family of space opera fantasy.
The most difficult thing to confront now, is the fact that Lucasfilm decided to relent to the toxic city of the fanbase. A company that since 1997, preached individuality when it came to storytelling backed out of a story they wanted to tell because of the loud, toxic, hateful group of fans. That is not the George Lucas way. As Lucasfilm supporters, we feel betrayed and ignored. We feel for the cast and crew that were given the hope of a continuation of The Acolyte and did a phenomenal job on the first season. We feel for the fact that Lucasfilm will now be frightened in wanting to tell different stories with different characters, time periods, and storylines. We feel that Lucasfilm now will decide to back out of a story instead of allowing it to blossom. We ESPECIALLY fear now that Lucasfilm will start de-canonizing actual SW media in order to make the trolls happy.
What we see is Lucasfilm now being a shell of its former self and not fighting for its own storytelling. It used to be Lucasfilm vs Corporate, but now it’s “what will sell better and be more familiar to people?”. You are becoming the very thing you swore to destroy. The film industry is scaring more and more creators from wanting to branch out and do new things and adaptability must be something we are willing to embrace. If we continue doing the same thing, eventually it will get to a point where the charm is gone and support will rarely be a commodity. Lucasfilm, you must honor George Lucas’ philosophy and see this story through. For the cast and crew that worked their butts off, for the supporters of this series that craved something different, and to tell your creatives that their visions will be protected by you. That their backs will always be covered by you. This decision to cancel The Acolyte only confirms to people that you won’t protect them, and that you don’t desire to expand. It confirms to the people who had to deal with the cyberbullying over loving this series that their support meant nothing.
If this isn’t the philosophy that you desire to adopt or preach, do the right thing and resurrect The Acolyte for a second season. Follow through with your vision and live up to the respectable standards that you have been upholding since 1997’s A New Hope. Please, and thank you.
Star Wars wouldn’t be here today if George Lucas just accepted the dominant level of “we don’t believe in your vision” that a New Hope first received. Star Wars wouldn’t be Star Wars without George Lucas’ experimenting and going against what typical Hollywood was doing. We often forget this, but Star Wars wasn’t a guaranteed success at first. It had to work and be unapologetically itself to get to the be the royal family of space opera fantasy.
The most difficult thing to confront now, is the fact that Lucasfilm decided to relent to the toxic city of the fanbase. A company that since 1997, preached individuality when it came to storytelling backed out of a story they wanted to tell because of the loud, toxic, hateful group of fans. That is not the George Lucas way. As Lucasfilm supporters, we feel betrayed and ignored. We feel for the cast and crew that were given the hope of a continuation of The Acolyte and did a phenomenal job on the first season. We feel for the fact that Lucasfilm will now be frightened in wanting to tell different stories with different characters, time periods, and storylines. We feel that Lucasfilm now will decide to back out of a story instead of allowing it to blossom. We ESPECIALLY fear now that Lucasfilm will start de-canonizing actual SW media in order to make the trolls happy.
What we see is Lucasfilm now being a shell of its former self and not fighting for its own storytelling. It used to be Lucasfilm vs Corporate, but now it’s “what will sell better and be more familiar to people?”. You are becoming the very thing you swore to destroy. The film industry is scaring more and more creators from wanting to branch out and do new things and adaptability must be something we are willing to embrace. If we continue doing the same thing, eventually it will get to a point where the charm is gone and support will rarely be a commodity. Lucasfilm, you must honor George Lucas’ philosophy and see this story through. For the cast and crew that worked their butts off, for the supporters of this series that craved something different, and to tell your creatives that their visions will be protected by you. That their backs will always be covered by you. This decision to cancel The Acolyte only confirms to people that you won’t protect them, and that you don’t desire to expand. It confirms to the people who had to deal with the cyberbullying over loving this series that their support meant nothing.
If this isn’t the philosophy that you desire to adopt or preach, do the right thing and resurrect The Acolyte for a second season. Follow through with your vision and live up to the respectable standards that you have been upholding since 1997’s A New Hope. Please, and thank you.
How it will be delivered
Share this petition with anyone and everyone you know who desires for The Acolyte to succeed. We need an alliance, not pockets of rebellion. We must unite and protect these brilliant stories from getting destroyed by the naysayers and people wanting to play on people’s heartstrings only through the familiar.