The Acolyte Showrunner Hits Back at Claims Star Wars Went ‘Woke’

The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland has issued a stark warning ahead of her Star Wars series’ premier.

Addressing claims The Acolyte is ‘woke’ for its diverse cast, Headland told The New York Times (via Deadline ), "I know how frustrating some Star Wars storytelling in the past has been...I stand by my empathy for fans. But I want to be clear: Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism or hate speech I don’t consider a fan.”

Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy has strong opinions of her own on the undesirable element present in some sections of the Star Wars fan base.

“Operating within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation — it’s terrifying,” Kennedy said. “I think Leslye has struggled a little bit with it. I think a lot of the women who step into Star Wars struggle with this a bit more. Because of the fan base being so male-dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal. My belief is that storytelling does need to be representative of all people. That’s an easy decision for me.”

The Acolyte is set to release on Disney+ June 4, 2024, with its two-episode premier. Watch a Jedi slice a giant bug in The Acolyte featurette .