The Forbidden Break: Star Wars Showrunner Defies George Lucas’ Strangest Rule with Surprising Joy

Star Wars: The Acolyte is an upcoming television show set in the High Republic era, nearly 100 years before The Phantom Menace. The show follows a former Jedi Padawan and her Jedi Master as they investigate a series of crimes involving the dark side of the Force. Showrunner Leslye Headland, known for Russian Doll, leads a talented cast including Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

In an interview with Dagobah Dispatch, Headland shared exciting information about The Acolyte, specifically mentioning the character of Wookiee Jedi Master Kelnacca, portrayed by Joonas Suotamo, who also played Chewbacca. The inclusion of a Wookiee Jedi goes against one of George Lucas' peculiar rules that there should be no Wookiee Jedi in the Star Wars universe. Below are Headland's comments:

(Note: No changes have been made to the original excerpt provided, except for minor grammatical and phrasing improvements.)

"It all began with Joonas, actually. We had this idea to create our own version of a Wookiee Jedi from the High Republic, but with a unique character design. I was particularly inspired by Joonas' performance in Solo and thought it would be amazing to see him as a Jedi in action, instead of just a sidekick role. Surprisingly, I kept pushing for this idea, even though I didn't think they would allow it. To my delight, Neil Scanlan was really enthusiastic about it too. What intrigued me the most was the concept of having a Wookiee with a shaved side of his head.

Often, these characters arise from their visual design, just like Amandla and [Lee Jung-jae]'s characters. As a visually-oriented person, I can envision their appearance and costumes before anything else. And that's how Kelnacca came into existence. I must admit, my desire to be on set with a Wookiee was quite selfish."

The Acolyte Will Introduce The First Live-Action Wookiee

Kelnacca will be the first Wookiee Jedi to appear in live-action Star Wars. Despite Lucas's initial rule against it, the fan-favorite Wookiee Jedi youngling Gungi was introduced in The Clone Wars and played a crucial role in the Young Jedi arc. This arc showcased how Jedi younglings obtain their kyber crystals and construct lightsabers. Gungi recently made a comeback in The Bad Batch season 2.

In previous narratives set in the High Republic era, which is when The Acolyte takes place, Wookiee Jedi were also featured. Padawan Burryaga Agaburry had a significant presence in various stories during Phase I of the High Republic, while Jedi Master Arkoff appeared in both Phase I and Phase II. Despite the inclusion of Burryaga and Arkoff, Wookiee Jedi are still exceedingly rare compared to humans and other alien species.

Wookiees are captivating Jedi due to their cultural beliefs and personality traits. They possess a deep bond with nature, seeking to coexist harmoniously with their home planet Kashyyk and holding a special reverence for the wroshyr trees, which enhances their connection to the Force. Gungi, Burryaga, and Arkoff have all displayed remarkable empathy and a fierce demeanor, much like the iconic Star Wars character Chewbacca. The Acolyte’s Jedi Master Kelnacca is set to delve further into the exploration of Wookiee Jedi and their intriguing link with the Force.