Amandla Stenberg recently opened up about the unexpected cancellation of the highly anticipated Star Wars spin-off, The Acolyte.
The actress revealed that while the news was disappointing, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. On Wednesday, August 28, Deadline reported that the series had been shelved, despite significant buzz surrounding its development.
Amandla Stenberg, who was set to play a leading role in the series, took to Instagram to share her thoughts with fans and followers.
“There are many folks out there that I want to acknowledge, and I want to show appreciation and love and support for, so that’s why I’m hopping on here to talk about this, which is that our Star Wars show has been cancelled,” the 25-year-old actress said in an Instagram story.
Stenberg continued, “And I’m gonna be transparent and say it’s not a huge shock for me. Of course, I live in the bubble of my own reality, but for those who aren’t aware, there has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it.”
The actress, best known for her role in The Hate U Give, discussed the challenges faced by the cast and crew due to the backlash.
Amandla Stenberg described the criticism as “hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudiced hatred and hateful language,” noting that it targeted not only her but also her co-stars, including Carrie-Anne Moss, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lee Jung-Jae, Manny Jacinto, and Rebecca Henderson.
Despite the cancellation, Stenberg remained composed and focused on expressing her gratitude to those who supported the project. The actress’s candid response highlights the broader issues of toxicity within fan communities and the impact it can have on the creative process.
Earlier this month, Lucasfilm announced its decision not to move forward with a second season of The Acolyte, marking the end of the series before it even began. Stenberg’s reflections offer a glimpse into the challenges faced by those involved in bringing new stories to a beloved franchise.
