A Whole New Game

Host Krystina Arielle welcomes actors Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-Jae to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage to talk about the brand new series, The Acolyte [00:15]. Arielle jokes that while both actors have fought for their lives in The Hunger Games and Squid Game respectively, they are now playing a completely different game [00:01]. The crowd roars as the two stars sit down to discuss their entry into the Star Wars universe.

Sharing the Secrets

When asked what it was like to finally share details about the highly anticipated show, Stenberg admits that being part of Star Wars comes with a lot of confusion about what can actually be shared [01:26]. However, she hopes the footage revealed earlier that day conveyed the show’s unique tone. She describes it as heavily inspired by martial arts films and Kill Bill, noting that creator Leslye Headland likes to call it “a combination of Frozen and Kill Bill which is kind of a nuts combo” [01:45]. Stenberg adds that tonally, the show is dark, exhilarating, and carries a sense of magical realism [02:02].

The Power of the Fandom

Lee Jung-Jae takes a moment to marvel at the longevity of Star Wars Celebration, expressing happy surprise that the event and the community have been going strong for 15 years [02:41]. He shares how wonderful it is to experience that togetherness, to which Arielle replies that it is a family, and “you’re part of the family now” [03:02].

A Mind-Melting Moment

Arielle asks the duo which trailer or surprise from the studio presentation excited them the most, banning them from picking their own show [03:45]. Stenberg quickly points to Rosario Dawson in Ahsoka, expressing immense excitement to see her, Hera, and Sabine all on screen together. Stenberg describes the experience of seeing them as a “mind melting moment” [04:11]. Lee notes that what stood out to him was how every trailer had a completely different feel and genre, making him eager to see all the new projects in full [04:52].

Who Could Say No to Star Wars?

Addressing Lee Jung-Jae, Arielle points out that The Acolyte is his first American series and his first in a foreign language [05:21]. Lee admits that because English is not his first language, it was a special, and perhaps daunting, experience. He confesses, “if it wasn’t Star Wars I may have declined some other shows, but who would say no to Star Wars come on” [05:54]. The deciding factor? “And they said you can use a lightsaber,” he adds to cheers from the crowd [06:14].

Dressed for the Occasion

Arielle turns to Stenberg, praising her for showing up to her own panel dressed in cosplay as Padmé Amidala [06:20]. Stenberg, a self-proclaimed fan of conventions and cosplay, explains, “it felt like there was no way I could come here and not cosplay” [06:46].

She then recalls the surreal experience of joining the cast. Stenberg shares that she nearly fainted when she learned that Leslye Headland and Lucasfilm had developed the show around her before they even had their first meeting [07:01]. She was presented with concept art already featuring her likeness, which she describes as a “fall on the floor moment” before the panic set in [07:40]. To prepare, she threw herself into Wing Chun training at a local school [07:54].

A Promise to the Fans

Before wrapping up, Lee Jung-Jae offers a bold promise to the fans, guaranteeing that “Acolyte will could would be the most interesting of the Star Wars stories” [08:46]. He praises Star Wars for its history of top-tier visuals and story development, assuring the crowd that The Acolyte will be a great example of pushing those boundaries even further [09:17].

Stenberg concludes by reflecting on what an exciting time it is for Star Wars, as so many different corners of the universe are being explored [09:43]. She considers it a huge privilege to focus on the High Republic era, promising a vast array of characters, creatures, and fighting styles in this previously unexplored time period [09:59].