'The Acolyte' Season 2 Explained: Canceled 'Star Wars' Series Deemed More Important Than Dave Filoni's 'Ahsoka'

After a tumultuous 2024, Lucasfilm closed out last year with its Skeleton Crew Disney+ release amid ongoing uncertainty about the future of Star Wars television.

Earlier in the summer, The Acolyte took Star Wars fans deep into the High Republic Era, showcasing a different side of the galaxy far, far away. Created by Leslye Headland, the series aimed to explore the Sith’s rise within the Jedi’s so-called Golden Age, offering a fresh take on the Force.

However, its ambitious storytelling and bold direction were met with divided responses. Much like the discourse surrounding Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII–The Last Jedi (2017), The Acolyte became a focal point for intense debates on canon and representation.

From the moment it was announced as a “female-centric” project, the show found itself at the center of online controversy. Led by a queer woman and featuring a diverse ensemble cast, the series was praised by some for its inclusivity, while others dismissed it as “woke,” fueling an ongoing culture war in fandom spaces.

Despite its nine-episode run leaving major lingering questions—such as Darth Plagueis’s reveal and Yoda’s involvement in the Brendok disaster—The Acolyte was ultimately canceled due to reports of low viewership. Some fans argue that Lucasfilm bowed to pressure from vocal detractors who frequently criticized the cast and creative team, including Amandla Stenberg (Osha/Mae Aniseya), Lee Jung-jae (Jedi Master Sol), Manny Jacinto (Qimir/The Stranger), and Jodie Turner-Smith (Mother Aniseya).

Speculation continues regarding the series’ future on Disney+. Some worry it may meet the same fate as Willow, which was quietly removed from the platform. For now, however, the show remains available for streaming.

Addressing the decision, Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman spoke with Vulture about The Acolyte’s cancellation and the company’s evolving approach to Star Wars television.

“So as it relates to Acolyte, we were happy with our performance, but it wasn’t where we needed it to be given the cost structure of that title, quite frankly, to go and make a season two,” Bergman explained. “So that’s the reason why we didn’t do that.”

However, new data has come to light suggesting that Disney may have been wrong to cancel the series, despite its big budget. Information collected by Parrot Analytics has shown that Leslye Headland’s series is more in demand than the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, and, surprisingly, Dave Filoni’s 2023 Star Wars: Ahsoka series.

“Parrot Analytics tracks the most “in-demand” series by measuring interest, engagement, and viewership across social media, streaming sites, and other sources,” The Direct reported. “This data is represented through a singular figure as the multiple of an individual series’ demand against the average show in the U.S.”

The Acolyte, while trashed by a specific community of Star Wars “fans,” was widely beloved by many, especially for its interesting dynamic between Osha (Stenberg) and Qimir (Jacinto), the portrayal of a shifty and questionable Jedi Council, and its expansion of Force lore. Not to mention the surprise reveal of Darth Plagueis for the first time in Star Wars live-action canon history. And it seems a lot of this contributes to The Acolyte‘s continued presence on the Disney streaming service.

“Seven months after The Acolyte was canceled, Parrot Analytics indicated demand for the High Republic series is still running strong,” The Direct continued. “The series has demand in the U.S. of 20.4 times the market average in the last 30 days–a level held by only 2.7% of shows that Parrot Analytics classes as “outstanding.”

Demand statistics were the following: Obi-Wan Kenobi – 11.4 times, The Book of Boba Fett – 11.7 times, Ahsoka – 13.9 times, The Acolyte – 20.4 times, Skeleton Crew – 21.7 times, and The Mandalorian – 26.9 times

Could these figures prove Disney was wrong to cancel the series–and does it mean there’s hope for a new season after all? After explaining that The Acolyte‘s cost was too high to move forward on a second season, Bergman also touched on Jon Watts and Christopher Ford’s Skeleton Crew, which took Star Wars back to the New Republic era in December last year.

“Skeleton Crew is in process now, so we’ll see,” Bergman said at the time. “We’ve seen some growth on that. We’ll see how that goes. As you said, the reviews have been excellent on Skeleton Crew, so we’ll have to see how that all plays out as it moves forward.”

Despite its critical reception, Skeleton Crew, which premiered on Disney+ and in select theaters on December 2, struggled in terms of viewership. With a reported budget of $136 million—still lower than The Acolyte’s—concerns mounted that the Jude Law-led series could suffer a similar fate.

In December, Forbes noted, “It may be too early to know anything for certain about viewership, but it seems that the double-episode premiere did not break into Luminate’s top 10 streaming list for that week when The Acolyte’s premiere at least was at #7. That may not tell the whole story, but it’s certainly not an ideal start.”

Set within the Mando-Verse alongside The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew follows four children—Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith)—who find themselves lost in the galaxy after an unexpected discovery on their home planet. Along their journey, they cross paths with Jude Law’s enigmatic Force user, Jod Na Nawood.

However, with no other Star Wars shows officially on the docket beyond Ahsoka Season 2 and Andor Season 2, Lucasfilm’s television future remains uncertain. When it comes to Dave Filloni’s Ahsoka, the second season is expected to begin filming this year for a 2026 release.

It’s not clear where the sophomore entry will pick up considering it’s likely that The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) will open before the series drops on Disney+. Fans do know that, at least at present, Filoni is the sole writer on the project.

In terms of theatrical releases, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is slated to hit theaters in 2026, marking the franchise’s return to the big screen for the first time since 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker. The film is rumored to replace The Mandalorian Season 4, setting the stage for Dave Filoni’s climactic “Heir to the Empire” crossover event.

Beyond that, other Star Wars films remain in flux. Simon Kinberg is reportedly developing a new project, though it’s unclear if it will connect to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey Skywalker-led “New Jedi Order” movie or launch a brand-new trilogy.

Meanwhile, Disney recently shifted its December 2026 Star Wars slot to make room for Ice Age 6, adding further uncertainty to the studio’s release calendar. More recently, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy revealed that Shawn Levy’s Star Wars movie would be the next to enter production following Jon Favreau’s Mando feature film.

Bergman assured fans that Lucasfilm is still actively developing multiple projects: “…we’re looking at a number of additional series that are in development. We’ll see what we decide to do. As I said earlier, they have to be great, and when we’re in the position where we think we have what we want, we’re going to move forward.”

Additionally, reports indicated that Taika Waititi’s long-discussed Star Wars film had been shelved, while Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron is back in active development. However, after denouncing rumors of her retirement, Kathleen Kennedy explained she still hoped to work with the Thor franchise director when scheduling allows.

As Lucasfilm navigates its ambitious lineup, the question remains: Will its upcoming projects manage to reinvigorate the franchise, or will Disney continue to reassess its approach to the galaxy far, far away?

What do you think about the latest developments? Let us know in the comments!