The spin-off series often referred to as the “gayest Star Wars ever,” The Acolyte, will not be returning for a second season. The show, helmed by showrunner Leslye Headland, has been canceled by Lucasfilm.
According to a report from Variety, “The Acolyte will not return for Season 2.” The decision comes despite the series exploring the rise of the Sith approximately 100 years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
The show made headlines for being the first in the Star Wars universe to incorporate trans pronouns. While it garnered an 83 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score was notably lower at just 14 percent.
The cancellation was unexpected, especially since the first season ended on a cliffhanger. However, fan reception was tepid, and viewership saw a significant drop after the premiere episode. The Acolyte was unique in that it was set outside the core Star Wars storyline, marking a departure from the traditional narrative.
In an interview about the series, Leslye Headland and star Amandla Stenberg were asked about the rumors dubbing The Acolyte the “gayest Star Wars ever.” Both embraced the label with enthusiasm.
“I want to ask you about this,” began Drew Taylor from The Wrap. “This is arguably the gayest Star Wars yet by a considerable margin.”
Headland and Stenberg found humor in the label, with Headland joking, “Not the gayest Star Wars!” Taylor continued to press the point, asking how Headland felt about this characterization.
“Am I gay? Yes,” Headland quipped, with Taylor acknowledging her identity but pressing on how it influenced the show.
Taylor noted that some fans might feel alienated by the explicit LGBTQ+ themes, to which Stenberg responded, “In my world, nerds are gay,” sparking laughter among the group.
Headland acknowledged that some had called it the “Gayest Star Wars” and expressed that she was “into it,” embracing the description.
