Breaking Barriers: Manny Jacinto Shatters Star Wars Records as the Trailblazing Live-Action Jedi

Manny Jacinto has made Star Wars history in The Acolyte by playing the first live-action Asian Jedi. In recent years, Star Wars has made significant progress in terms of representation on screen, and The Acolyte, a Disney+ TV show set about a century before the prequel trilogy, is another exciting step forward. Showrunner Leslye Headland has worked diligently to bring more diversity to the Star Wars galaxy.

Manny Jacinto, known for his role in The Good Place, is one of the new characters in The Acolyte, and his role remains mysterious. Even the character's name is undisclosed, but in an interview with Dagobah Dispatch, Jacinto confirmed that he is indeed portraying a Jedi. This distinction officially makes him the first live-action Asian Jedi in Star Wars, and he is thrilled to play a part in making history. As Jacinto expressed, "To be honest, this is the first time audiences will witness an Asian Jedi. It's a tremendous responsibility. Seeing him inspire a new generation of Asian children to wield the lightsaber — it's truly remarkable."

It's About Time Star Wars Had An Asian Jedi

Jacinto's remarks shed light on the significant lack of diversity in Star Wars, which is even more remarkable considering George Lucas openly acknowledged drawing inspiration from Asian concepts. Akira Kurosawa's films, particularly The Hidden Fortress in 1958, were highly influential. Interestingly, Toshiro Mifune, the lead actor in Kurosawa's movie, was initially offered the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, it wasn't until the Disney era that Asian representation in Star Wars became prominent.

A new wave of inclusivity began with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, introducing the Guardians of the Whills, a Force-worshipping cult centered around the ill-fated moon Jedha. Donnie Yen portrayed Chirrut Îmwe, while Jiang Wen portrayed Baze Malbus. Star Wars: The Last Jedi further expanded the Asian representation with the introduction of Kelly Marie Tran as Rose and Veronica Ngo as Paige Tico. Nevertheless, it is only now that Star Wars is finally granting viewers an Asian Jedi. Jacinto rightly emphasizes the significance of this for Asian children, as they will now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in their own stories within the vast Star Wars universe, thanks to The Acolyte.

Source: Dagobah Dispatch