Disney Cancels 'The Acolyte' After Just One Season, Leaving Fans Split

Disney has decided not to move forward with a second season of the Star Wars spinoff series The Acolyte. The show, which debuted on Disney+ on June 4, 2024, followed a former Padawan who teams up with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes that unveil a much darker threat.

Despite wrapping up a little over a month ago, sources have confirmed that the series will not be renewed for another season. This cancellation comes amid Disney’s broader strategy to reassess and streamline its content offerings for the coming years. The Acolyte received mixed reviews overall; it earned a 78 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics but didn’t fully resonate with Star Wars enthusiasts.

The series attracted considerable attention initially, amassing 4.8 million views on its first day and making its debut on Nielsen’s Top 10 originals charts. However, its viewership began to decline after the third week, culminating in what is believed to be the lowest-rated Star Wars series finale to date.

Given the high production costs exceeding $100 million, Disney+ likely required a strong and consistent viewership to justify a renewal. The Acolyte evidently did not meet these benchmarks.

Reaction from fans has been divided. Some expressed disappointment over the cancellation, with one Twitter user lamenting, “The show gave us the most exciting villain since Kylo Ren and some of the freshest lightsaber action in ages. It’s a shame they’re canceling it instead of possibly retooling the issues.”

Others anticipated the decision, with one commenter noting, “Not surprising… The weekly release schedule hurt it, allowing every episode to be scrutinized individually. The overall story was just mediocre.”

Another fan echoed a similar sentiment, stating, “The show had so much potential and I wanted to see more of that era of Star Wars, but it suffered from poor writing in many episodes. Sorry to those hoping for a second season.”