Mind you, “The Acolyte” won’t be the first glimpse we’ve gotten of what a galaxy far, far away is like in the absence of a galaxy-wide feud. Without a doubt, what made “The Mandalorian” so refreshing in its early seasons was the way it showed what the “Star Wars” universe looks like from the perspective of working-class stiffs trying to survive in the aftermath of the Galactic Civil War.
“I think what makes this show different and interesting is that it’s presented from the perspective of the ‘Star Wars’ villains,” Headland said. “These are people who are using the Force in their own way, plunging into the darker sides of the Force, and they’re doing it without being sanctioned by the larger institution, which, in this case, is the Jedi.”
At that same point, “The Acolyte” will be the first time we really get to see what the Jedi Order was like as an institution before the prequel trilogy, at least outside of animated series like “Tales of the Jedi.” (Once again, “Star Wars” animation proves to be ahead of the curve.) “‘Star Wars’ is always about a version of the underdog versus the institution,” Headland noted. “And I thought it was very interesting to do a show about bad guys and establish that during that period of time it made more sense. So it almost flipped.”
“We have more Jedi than you’ve ever seen in any ‘Star Wars’ content, but at the same time, you see more morally ambiguous characters than you’ve ever seen in other ‘Star Wars’ content,” he added. . I don’t know about you, but I’m getting strong “Andor” vibes from the way Headland describes “The Acolyte,” and I’m liking it.