The Acolyte Casts Squid Games Lee Jung-Jae as Male Lead

Deadline is reporting that the upcoming live-action Star Wars series The Acolyte has cast Lee Jung-Jae as its male lead. The series' lead role will be played by Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Hunger Games), with Jodie Turner-Smith in negotiations to join as well.



The outlet also points out that Leslye Headland is the series' director, writer, executive producer, and showrunner. We knew about the former two, and assumed she would also take writing credits for some episodes, but it was unclear if she would also direct for the series. Deadline's wording seems to imply that she will be the only director on the series, though we don't know for certain yet. According to the report, Headland and Kathleen Kennedy have been carefully putting together an A-list cast for the series that also happens to be diverse.



Lee Jung-Jae broke into fame last year after the global success of Netflix's Squid Game. He has earned awards for his performance, and is now the frontrunner to take the Best Actor Emmy in the upcoming ceremony. Details about his character in The Acolyte are currently unknown.



Not a lot is known about the series in general. It will take place around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, and will be a mystery-thriller with some emphasis on the dark side of the Force. The series was not featured at the most recent edition of Star Wars Celebration, though it might have a presence at the upcoming D23 Expo in Anaheim, where Lucasfilm will have a presentation. This piece of casting, as well as more members of the ensemble, could officially be announced there.



Filming for The Acolyte will begin in London later this fall, with sets already being built in the UK.



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