‘The Acolyte’ Canceled by Disney+: No Season 2 for ‘Star Wars’ Show

The Star Wars series The Acolyte will not continue, as Lucasfilm has decided not to move forward with a second season, sources have confirmed. The news comes just over a month after the eight-episode first season, led by creator and showrunner Leslye Headland, concluded its run on Disney+.

The decision is not entirely unexpected. While The Acolyte received a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a generally positive reception from critics, it sharply divided the Star Wars fanbase, which impacted its overall viewership. Despite a strong debut, where it garnered 4.8 million views on its first day—making it the biggest series premiere on Disney+ this year—the series struggled to maintain its momentum. After five days, the viewership rose to 11.1 million globally, and it initially made an appearance on Nielsen’s Top 10 originals chart. However, by the third week, The Acolyte dropped out of the Top 10 and only briefly returned to the list after the release of its finale, which registered as one of the lowest for a Star Wars series finale with 335 million minutes viewed.

This outcome reflects the high bar that Disney+ sets for renewing big-budget series, especially those costing well over $100 million per season to produce. Despite this, Headland had expressed her hope for a second season, having pitched her ideas for continuing the story.

The Acolyte was a mystery-thriller set in the final days of the High Republic era, exploring the darker side of the Star Wars universe. It starred Amandla Stenberg as a former Padawan who reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, only to confront forces more sinister than they anticipated. The cast also included Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

While The Acolyte won’t see a second season, Lucasfilm’s first Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, continues to thrive, with plans to cross over into feature films. Additionally, Ahsoka, the series that preceded The Acolyte, has been renewed for a second season, showcasing the ongoing commitment to expanding the Star Wars universe on the platform.