Every Star Wars film begins with that iconic line of text: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But on screen, the furthest back audiences have ever gone is the earliest days of the Skywalker Saga in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Until now. Incoming series The Acolyte is an all-new adventure set in George Lucas’ universe, turning the clock back 100 years before Episode I to unspool a mystery offering fresh insight into the Jedi, the Sith, and everything in between. It’s packed with brand new heroes, bursting with martial-arts action, and – most importantly – will stick a lightsaber in the hands (paws?) of a Wookiee. The Acolyte is about to excavate an undiscovered chapter in Star Wars history – get ready to experience an even longer time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
The new issue of Empire is a world-exclusive deep-dive into Star Wars’ boldest series yet – speaking to The Acolyte creator and showrunner Leslye Headland about bringing her distinctive Star Wars vision to the screen, and presenting a deeply personal story in the world of cinema’s greatest space opera. Plus, we meet the show’s sprawling cast of assorted Jedi, smugglers, assassins and witches – speaking to Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Carrie-Anne Moss, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Joonas Suotamo, Rebecca Henderson, Manny Jacinto and Jodie Turner-Smith about establishing a whole new galactic era. Plus, the issue is filled with never-before-seen images, offering your best look yet at the all-new take on the series’ lore in a Star Wars series like no other. Bring on the return of the Jedi.
This month’s newsstand cover sees Amandla Stenberg’s mysterious Mae with her knives out, ready for action – flanked by three incoming Jedi: Lee Jung-jae’s Master Sol, Carrie-Anne Moss’ Master Indara, and Joonas Suotamo’s Wookiee Jedi, Kelnacca.
And our subscriber cover is a beautiful galactic refraction of a Force-fight between Mae and Master Indara, illustrated exclusively for Empire by Nada Maktari.
And that’s not all – inside this issue, we dive into Daisy Ridley’s career in a major new interview; we revisit ’90s pill-popping cult classic Human Traffic at 25; we pose your questions to Zack Snyder ahead of Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver; we enter the TARDIS for an extended Doctor Who interview with Russell T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa; we engage in a game of mixed throuples with Luca Guadagnino’s erotic tennis thriller Challengers; and much, much more.
It’s an unmissable issue, offering the ultimate early look at a bold new era of Star Wars. Find Empire’s The Acolyte issue at all light side and dark side newsagents on Thursday 11 April. Pre-order a copy online here. The Acolyte streams on Disney+ in the UK from 5 June.