The Acolyte release date, cast, trailer, and more about the Star Wars show

The Acolyte is the next Star Wars show to arrive, and, so far, it's shrouded in plenty of mystery. It has not one but two trailers so far, which you can read more about below, and looks set to be an action-packed, dark series set in the High Republic era. That has us particularly intrigued, considering that period of time has never been seen in live-action before.

While much of the new show is still an enigma, we've rounded up everything you need to know about The Acolyte below, including its release date, the cast, and what's out there about the story. That means you'll be up to date with what could be the most exciting Star Wars show yet in no time.

So, to prepare for our live-action return to the galaxy far, far away, head to the below. May the Force be with you…

The Acolyte release date and time

The Acolyte will arrive on Disney Plus on June 4. If it follows Ahsoka's release pattern, we can expect it to launch at 6pm PT/9pm ET, which is 2am BST on June 5 in the UK. It will also be dropping its first two episodes at once.

The Acolyte trailer

The Acolyte released a teaser trailer first, which showcases a shadowy threat, lots of Jedi wielding their lightsabers, and some seriously cool action. It was pretty much the same trailer that debuted behind closed doors at Star Wars Celebration 2023. Check it out above.

Then, a longer trailer debuted to mark Star Wars Day (May 4). This new trailer teases a mysterious, masked villain who wields a red lightsaber – and also features the central murder plot. You can watch it below.

The Acolyte cast

The Acolyte cast is absolutely stacked. Check out the list below:

• Amandla Stenberg – Mae

• Lee Jung-jae – Sol

• Manny Jacinto – Qimir

• Dafne Keen – Jecki Lon

• Charlie Barnett – Yord Fandar

• Jodie Turner-Smith – Mother Aniseya

• Rebecca Henderson – Vernestra Rwoh

• Joonas Suotamo – Kelnacca

• Carrie-Anne Moss – Indara

• Dean-Charles Chapman – TBC

• Abigail Thorn – Ensign Eurus

• Margarita Levieva – TBC

• Amy Tsang – TBC

The Acolyte story

So far, The Acolyte is very much shrouded in mystery. We do know that it will be "Sith-led," however, and that it will be set in the High Republic era, which has never been shown in live-action before. As for its exact spot on the Star Wars timeline, it falls 100 years before the events of the first prequel movie, The Phantom Menace.

"We are the prequel to the prequels," Stenberg told our sister publication Total Film. "And the prequels have this kind of prestige to them, this monarchical vibe. So one of my main questions going in was: are we going to maintain that sensibility? And yes, in many ways we do, while also incorporating elements that feel really contemporary and relatable. When I watched [the finished episodes] I was really struck by how universal the story was."

Showrunner Leslye Headland also teased the series' enigmatic nature. "The Acolyte is a mystery. It's similar to Russian Doll, which was really about giving the audience information episode by episode, this spiral of storytelling," she commented.

"This is a much larger landscape, but it similarly tackles the idea of 'your eyes can deceive you'. You’re going to think the show is one thing, but then it’s going to gearshift into something else, and then do it again."

Per the official logline, we'll see Lee Jung-Jae's Jedi Master come up against a familiar, dangerous fighter he knows from his past (Amandla Stenberg), thanks to a string of shocking crimes.

For even more, you can check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows to see what else the galaxy far, far away has in store.