Amandla Stenberg Opens Up About Canceling ‘The Acolyte’
Amanda Stenberg in a still from ‘The Acolyte’ Photo credit: Star Wars
Amandla Stenberg addresses recent cancellations AcolyteA Star Wars spin-off series, shared that the news was “not a huge shock” after a backlash from some fans. In an Instagram Story post, Stenberg opened up about the cancellation and the “rampant of vitriol” that surrounded the show before it even debuted.
“There are so many people out there that I want to acknowledge and show gratitude and love and support for, so I want to talk about this here, which is our Star Wars The show was canceled,” Stenberg said. He noted that while he wasn’t entirely surprised by the decision, the experience was deeply impactful. “For those who aren’t aware, we’ve been on a rampage of vitriol since the show was announced, when it was still an idea and No one saw it.”
Stenberg described the reaction as “ultra-conservative bigotry and scary, prejudiced hatred and hateful language” directed at a diverse cast, which included Lee Jung-jae, Charlie Burnett, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jodie Turner-Smith and others. The actress, who has been vocal about the challenges she faced, admitted that the attacks affected her significantly when she first joined the project.
“Even though I expected it to happen, it’s not something you fully understand how it feels until it happens to you,” she explained. Despite the negativity, Stenberg emphasized his commitment to his values, even in the context of working in such a huge franchise. “For me, it became a situation where I had no choice but to honor my sense of morality and my belief system and my value system while in this unique position.”
AcolyteA mystery-thriller set in the final days of the High Republic era, follows Stenberg’s character, a former Padawan, as he reunites with his Jedi master to investigate sinister forces. Although disappointed by the cancellation, Stenberg expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of it Star Wars Universe, saying, “I still feel a lot of excitement and joy that I got to experience it and that people loved it.”
Co-star Lee Jong-jo expressed his surprise at the show’s cancellation, praised creator Leslie Hedland’s storytelling and looks forward to what could be a promising second season.
