A Super Fan Showrunner

Host Krystina Arielle welcomes actors Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, and Charlie Barnett to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage to talk about the highly anticipated new series, The Acolyte. Arielle kicks off the interview by asking Barnett about his experience reuniting with creator Leslye Headland after previously working with her on Russian Doll. Barnett praises Headland as an incredibly malleable and collaborative director. He explains that while he considers himself a fan, Headland is a “next level super fan” who often corrected him on Star Wars lore. He notes that her willingness to incorporate the actors’ thoughts and artistic choices makes the creative process incredibly enjoyable.

Living the Lifestyle

Arielle turns to Keen, who plays a Jedi in the series, and asks what it feels like to live out all of their dreams. Keen laughs, declaring, “It’s a lifestyle, it’s great”. She shares a hilarious story about receiving her lightsaber for the first time. The cast had spent a long time practicing with taped wooden sticks. When the props team finally casually handed Keen her real lightsaber, she was so overwhelmed that she had to go hide in a corner to scream. She also reveals the joy of playing an alien character and the extensive stunt and Force training the cast underwent.

The Shenanigans of the Set

Arielle asks Keen and Barnett about their dynamic on set, noting that they have a reputation for being two peas in a pod. Barnett laughingly admits they were the “children of the set” who often got in trouble for goofing off. He jokingly calls out Keen for breaking three lightsabers during their off-screen battles, to which Keen replies defensively, “I’m really sorry I’m not doing it on purpose!”.

Keen then shares a touching story about a moment of bonding. She explains that during week three of stunt training, Barnett was incredibly stressed because he could not nail a backflip and kickflip spin. As he was having a minor freak-out in the corner, he was handed his Jedi robe for the very first time. Recognizing the gravity of the moment, Keen secretly broke the rules, took a photo of him, and sent it to him with an encouraging message. Barnett notes that the moment showed him he truly had a supportive partner on set.

A New Era of Thriving Jedi

Arielle asks the cast what it is like to work in an entirely new, unexplored era of Star Wars storytelling. Keen expresses her excitement about having the freedom to make creative decisions within the established universe. She highlights the mystery of the era, noting that it takes place at a time when the Sith seemingly do not exist. “The Jedi is kind of like thriving at this point like they’re doing really well,” Keen explains, adding that they even have different costumes compared to the Jedi seen in later eras.

The Balance of Power

Before wrapping up, Arielle asks the cast to describe The Acolyte. Jacinto simply says “action,” while Barnett describes it as “a battle for power”. Barnett elaborates that the best part of Star Wars is exploring the gray areas, where good and evil depend entirely on what side you are standing on. He notes the show is truly about the balance of power and realizing that so much of it starts at the root. Keen adds that the show has a very human quality to it, making it an incredibly emotional journey.