Star Wars: The Acolyte is the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise. Even before its release, the show was mired in controversy, with some criticisms fueled by objections to its perceived “woke” politics and others stemming from inflammatory remarks made by the cast and crew.
Upon release, it became clear that, despite its hefty $180 million budget for just 8 episodes, the series struggled with poor storytelling, confusing pacing, and overall low-quality production.
The show’s viewership dwindled over time, and while the finale managed to improve upon the lackluster earlier episodes, it wasn’t enough to prevent its cancellation.
The Acolyte proved unprofitable and cast Disney in a negative light, leading to the announcement of the show’s cancellation a few days ago.
Reactions to this news have been mixed, ranging from joy and memes to sadness and criticism aimed at “trolls,” “haters,” and “bigots.” In response, a petition has been launched on Change.org, urging Disney to grant at least a second season to continue the storylines introduced in the finale (Yoda, Darth Plagueis, Qimir).
The petition has garnered over 30,000 signatures—a notable achievement given the show’s relatively small viewership. Additionally, the hashtag #SaveTheAcolyte has started trending on X (formerly Twitter), as fans make a last-ditch effort to renew the series, though its revival remains unlikely.
Friendly reminder that a “cancelation” doesn’t have to be the end. We’ve been here before.
If you’re upset about #TheAcolyte not continuing, don’t be quiet about it.
Nothing is impossible.#SaveTheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/xWNS4592zX
— Ben Hart The Star Wars Guy 💫 (@BenHartWithNoE) August 20, 2024
People who don’t want Amandla in season 2… do you hear yourselves? Amandla is the heart and soul of this show. It’s called THE ACOLYTE. In the beginning Mae was the Acolyte, now it’s Osha. How can you have a second season of the Acolyte… without an Acolyte?#SaveTheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/AauhFhluue
— val ✧ (@valcolyte) August 22, 2024
If even FORBES is calling u out @Disney @Lucasfilm on the poor choice of cancelling The Acolyte, then idk what to tell u. Cut the budget in half if you must, a good showrunner can work around it. But let the story continue. @Forbes get her, Jade#SaveTheAcolyte #RenewTheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/E5X6iOBZyW
— Alyssa Zaidelle (@actual_Alyssa) August 23, 2024
Idk y’all…I think…I think the fans are speaking LOUD AND CLEAR 👏🏼👏🏼
KEEP GOING!!#SaveTheAcolyte #RenewTheAcolyte pic.twitter.com/wAmMLtKsfI— Darth Aak’ei (@DarthAakei) August 23, 2024
The Acolyte hasn’t stopped trending since the news dropped. The real fans love this show, the ones who are celebrating its cancelation will hate anything that dares to be new and different.
Let us see how this story ends!#RenewTheAcolyte#SaveTheAcolyte @DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/2PNq8yp6Mo
— caity 🌱 renew the acolyte🌙 (@Caetlynx) August 23, 2024
Following the cancellation news, the show’s stars, especially Amandla Stenberg and Leslye Headland, have faced online harassment, which is unacceptable regardless of the product’s quality. In a surprising move, Disney has also distanced itself from the show, removing most related merchandise from its official store and only restoring a few T-shirts.
Fans are growing increasingly concerned that The Acolyte might meet the same fate as Willow, a 1988 franchise revival that, despite critical acclaim, was poorly received by fans. The show experienced such low viewership that it was removed from the streaming service within six months of its release, eliminating all legal viewing options.
What are your thoughts? Should The Acolyte be revived? Share your opinions in the comments below!
