The Acolyte Cast (2024)
Lucasfilm / Disney+ | Star Wars Science Fiction | 1 Season (8 Episodes) | Created by Leslye Headland
Set approximately 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, during the waning years of the High Republic era, The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that unfolds when a former Padawan investigates a series of shocking crimes against Jedi Knights. As her investigation deepens, the secrets of her own past become dangerously intertwined with the killings — and with a growing darkness at the edge of the galaxy that the Jedi Order is ill-prepared to confront. The series explores the question of what happens when the Jedi themselves become the antagonists in someone else's story.
The Acolyte cast brings a remarkably international and diverse assembly of talent to the Star Wars universe. Amandla Stenberg anchors the series in a physically and emotionally demanding dual performance as the twin sisters Osha and Mae. South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae — best known internationally as the lead of Squid Game — makes his Star Wars debut as the complex Jedi Master Sol, while Manny Jacinto undergoes a striking transformation from his comedic role in The Good Place to play the frightening dark-side warrior Qimir. The Acolyte cast also features Dafne Keen, who previously played Laura/X-23 in Logan, and Carrie-Anne Moss, whose casting as a Jedi Master immediately recalled her action-icon status from The Matrix trilogy.
Main Cast
Amandla Stenberg
Osha / Mae
Twin sisters on opposite sides of the conflict: Osha, a former Padawan working as a meknek in space, and Mae, a trained assassin targeting the Jedi who survived their coven's destruction.
Lee Jung-jae
Master Sol
A respected and deeply compassionate Jedi Master whose connection to the twins and their tragic past is the moral center of the series.
Manny Jacinto
Qimir / The Stranger
A mysterious former acquaintance of Mae who is eventually revealed as a powerful and ruthless dark-side warrior — the season's primary antagonist.
Dafne Keen
Jecki Lon
Master Sol's gifted and tenacious Padawan, whose hybrid Thisspiasian heritage gives her a unique sensitivity to the Force and a fierce determination in the field.
Charlie Barnett
Yord Fandar
A by-the-book Jedi Knight who accompanies Master Sol's investigation, representing the Order's institutional confidence and its growing blind spots.
Jodie Turner-Smith
Mother Aniseya
The leader of the witches' coven on Brendok whose life and choices set the tragedy of the Menendez twins into motion decades before the series begins.
Carrie-Anne Moss
Indara
A formidable Jedi Master whose death in the series' opening sequence serves as the inciting event, establishing the dark-side threat facing the Order.
Rebecca Henderson
Vernestra Rwoh
A High Republic-era Jedi Master who leads the Republic's official response to the attacks on Jedi and whose decisions reflect the Order's institutional priorities.
Dean-Charles Chapman
Jedi Padawan
A young Jedi who joins the investigation and encounters the series' central conflict as it escalates beyond what the Order anticipated.
Supporting & Recurring Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Brady | Young Mae | Mae as a child on Brendok, seen in flashback episodes depicting the coven's tragedy | Recurring |
| Leah Brady | Young Osha | Osha as a child in flashback sequences on the planet Brendok | Recurring |
| Margarita Levieva | Koril | Co-leader of the witches' coven on Brendok and Mother Aniseya's partner | Recurring |
| Abigail Thorn | Ensala | A member of the Force witches' coven on Brendok | Recurring |
| Brendan Wayne | Bazil | A Jedi tracker who assists in the investigation into attacks on the Order | Recurring |
| Ahmed Best | Huyang | The ancient Jedi architect droid who counsels the Order; originally the voice of Jar Jar Binks, Best's appearance was celebrated as a meaningful reclamation of Star Wars legacy | Guest |
Creators & Production
Leslye Headland
Creator, Showrunner, Writer, Executive Producer, Director
Kathleen Kennedy
Executive Producer
Simon Emanuel
Executive Producer
Jeff F. King
Executive Producer
Alex Garcia Lopez
Director (multiple episodes)
Hanelle M. Culpepper
Director (multiple episodes)
About the Acolyte Cast
The Acolyte marked the first Star Wars series to be set so far back in the galaxy's history — during the waning High Republic era — which required creator Leslye Headland to assemble a cast capable of inhabiting a Star Wars universe that would feel fresh rather than nostalgic. Lee Jung-jae's casting as Master Sol was a significant cultural moment, making him the first actor of Korean descent to lead a live-action Star Wars project. His performance, which required him to learn his dialogue in English while working with a predominantly English-speaking cast and crew, earned considerable admiration. Amandla Stenberg's dual performance as Osha and Mae drew on careful physical differentiation — different posture, vocal register, and movement vocabulary for each twin — to allow audiences to track which sister they were watching even before visual cues confirmed it.
Carrie-Anne Moss's role as Jedi Master Indara, while relatively brief, was one of the series' most effective pieces of casting: her Matrix association meant that her presence in action sequences immediately signaled competence and gravitas, making her character's death all the more impactful as a statement of the antagonist's power. Manny Jacinto, who spent four seasons as the lovable Jason Mendoza on The Good Place, deliberately subverted audience expectations of him to deliver the series' most unsettling performance. The Acolyte premiered on Disney+ on June 4, 2024, and was not renewed for a second season following an evaluation of viewership data, a decision that disappointed the significant critical and fan audience that had embraced Headland's vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in The Acolyte?
The Acolyte stars Amandla Stenberg in a dual role as twins Osha and Mae, with Lee Jung-jae as Jedi Master Sol, Manny Jacinto as the mysterious dark-side warrior Qimir, Dafne Keen as Padawan Jecki Lon, and Carrie-Anne Moss as Jedi Master Indara.
Who plays Osha and Mae in The Acolyte?
Both twins — Osha and Mae — are played by Amandla Stenberg. The series follows the twin sisters on converging paths: Osha is a former Padawan turned meknek, while Mae is a trained assassin hunting the Jedi who survived the destruction of their coven.
Who plays the villain in The Acolyte?
Manny Jacinto plays Qimir, also known as The Stranger — a mysterious and highly skilled dark-side warrior who serves as the primary antagonist of the season. His identity and connection to the dark side are gradually revealed across the series.
Who created The Acolyte?
The Acolyte was created by Leslye Headland, who also served as showrunner. Headland, known for Russian Doll on Netflix, conceived the series as a mystery-thriller set in the final years of the High Republic era — roughly 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace.
When is The Acolyte set in Star Wars timeline?
The Acolyte is set approximately 100 years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Episode I), during the final days of the High Republic era — a period when the Jedi Order was at the height of its power and galactic influence.
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