What's next for 'The Acolyte' and The High Republic?
We may find out next week at San Diego Comic-Con.
Weeks before The Acolyte's first season ended, we fans were already asking for another season. Now that the first season is over, we are begging. Pleading. Please, Star Wars. Another season of this dark, intense, heartbreaking, thrilling show is not a want but a need.
With convention season ramping up — San Diego Comic-Con is next week — news of what’s next for The Acolyte and The High Republic era could be just around the corner.
Next Thursday, SDCC will have the Star Wars: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away panel hosted by Patton Oswalt. This will be the panel to watch for fans of Star Wars books, comics, and games.
In attendance will be Humberly Gonzalez and Jay Rincon, some of the voices behind the characters of Star Wars Outlaws, alongside the legendary Dee Bradley Baker and authors Justina Ireland, Tessa Gratton, and Cavan Scott. With this lineup, we can expect some exciting reveals from the upcoming Outlaws game and the next books in The High Republic initiative.
You’ll also want to keep your eyes peeled on this newsletter and my Instagram and TikTok pages at 8:20 p.m. EST Thursday, July 25, for full details on everything revealed in the panel. Subscribers get the news delivered straight to your inbox!
**Spoilers ahead for the first season of The Acolyte and The High Republic books**
I don’t see Star Wars announcing another season of The Acolyte at this panel, but there are still plenty of chances for it to happen through the rest of the convention season. The announcement may not even happen at a convention as many big franchises like Star Wars and Marvel opt to share things on their own carefully curated schedules.
BUT, with how season 1 ended — Darth Plagueis cameo, Reylo-coded dark side relationship, green-skinned Jedi doing coverups — the time is ripe for more High Republic-era books that tie into The Acolyte.
The time is especially perfect because The High Republic publishing initiative will release the final books in spring of 2025. The next High Republic books and comics include…
The High Republic Adventures: Echoes of Fear (Aug. 21, 2024) — Dark Horse Comics
Beware the Nameless (Aug. 27, 2024) — middle-grade
The Acolyte: Kelnacca #1 (Sept. 4, 2024) — Marvel Comics. This one-shot comic is likely part of a mini-series that will spotlight Acolyte characters and connect them to The High Republic literature.
Tears of the Nameless (Sept. 24, 2024) — young adult
Tempest Breaker (Dec. 3, 2024) — audio drama
Trials of the Jedi (spring 2025)
A Valiant Vow (spring 2025)
Into the Light (spring 2025)
When The High Republic ends with Into the Light, there are still over 100 years on the timeline before the events of The Acolyte. And The Acolyte is set about 100 years before The Phantom Menace. That’s two centuries of stories that could be told through literature. I’ll be hyped for any new Star Wars book we get, but here are some slightly unhinged ideas I’d love to read (or write👀) if I had any sort of say in the matter.
A history of Force religions: Different groups throughout galactic history have believed in, wielded, and worshipped the cosmic energy known as the Force in different ways. There are Jedi and Sith, of course, as well as Nightsisters, Guardians of the Whills, and High Republic-era groups like Mother Aniseya’s witches and the Path of the Open Hand. I would love to explore all the different Force religions in an in-universe anthropological text.
The Acolyte novelization or tie-in novel: Honestly, let’s bring back Star Wars novelizations — not just for the movies but for shows as well. At least, more tie-in novels. For The Acolyte, a solid tie-in novel could give more story depth with perspectives like Jecki’s, Yord’s, or Vernestra’s. Also, any chance to include more time with Bazil, I’m all in.
More YA novels with Jedi Padawan training: I want Osha’s journey as an older youngling-turned-Padawan who ultimately “fails” to become a Jedi. I want Vernestra and Qimir’s story as another failed master and apprentice relationship. I want more Yord, especially during his Padawan years.
What High Republic x Acolyte books would you like to see next? Share your ideas in the comments!
New bookmarks in the shop
Once again, I have new bookmarks in my Etsy shop.
The Rebels Darth Maul screaming KENOBIIIIII once came to me on a whim, and I’m so happy about how it turn out. I love the little red lightsaber snuck in at the end.
I’m also excited to bring back a revamped version of “The Force Will Be Free” bookmark inspired by Phase 2 of The High Republic. It’s giving both Marda Ro and Mother Aniseya with the colors and line symbols.
A year later, I’m still blown away by all the support I’ve gotten for my little Space Wizards Book Club Etsy shop. I still smile every time someone tags me in a photo with one of my bookmarks or stickers. And I’m thrilled with every single new order.
Thank you. Thank YOU. THANK YOU.
This week’s Star Wars releases
July 16
Legends: The Thrawn Trilogy omnibus
July 17
Star Wars (2020) #48
I think you should join Lucasfilm publishing as an ideas person (and writer!), 'cause I'd devour all of those Acolyte related things. (Watch this space for something of my own slightly related...). Also green-skinned Jedi doing cover ups 👌 Looking forward to your SDCC coverage!