‘The Acolyte’ Creator Claims New Star Wars Content Could Outshine the Films Culturally

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Leslye Headland, who created the recently canceled Star Wars show “The Acolyte,” believes that Star Wars stories created for TV and other platforms may one day be more influential than the original movies.

The show premiered on Disney+ in June 2024, but unfortunately, it wasn’t successful. It was canceled after just one season in August 2024 because not enough people watched, and it had cost a lot of money to make with little to show for the investment.

Initial projections estimated the project’s cost at $180 million, but recent reports show the final spending totaled $230.8 million. Ironically, despite the film’s themes of female empowerment, the women working on set were reportedly underpaid.

I was really concerned to learn about the lack of diversity on set. The documents showed that back in early April 2023, only about 30% of the 695 people working on the production were women. What’s even more upsetting is that, on average, women were paid almost 20% less per hour than the men doing the same job. It’s just not right, and we need to address these imbalances.

Headland admitted she wasn’t shocked by the show’s cancellation, but was surprised by how quickly it happened and how public the decision was. She also felt the way it was handled was unexpected. However, after receiving feedback and hearing criticism about viewership numbers, she realized the cancellation was inevitable.

Even though the show was cancelled, Headland learned a lot by watching online creators discuss it. These creators had been fans of her work for years and were now making videos – reviews, summaries, and live reactions – about “The Acolyte,” and earning money from ads and platforms like Patreon.

She explained that streamers and studios are creating content which is then quickly being used by other creators. These creators are earning money from things like commentary, summaries, and live streams – primarily through ads and platforms like Patreon, and there’s significant income to be made.

Also, feel free to fully invest in whatever you’re passionate about. But this situation showed me there’s a disconnect between the studios and their audience. They see it as simply ‘fandom,’ and while it is that, studios also treat it like a constant focus group.

Headland suggests that fan-made content could ultimately have a bigger impact on culture than official Star Wars movies and shows. While the original Star Wars properties will likely remain profitable, she believes the content inspired by those stories – like fan films, TV series, and other creations – may be what truly resonates with future generations.

The new Disney+ series, “The Acolyte,” premiered on June 4, 2024, with the first two episodes available immediately, and new episodes released each week until July 16. Although critics mostly liked it, many viewers felt the show didn’t live up to expectations given its large budget.

Compared to other Star Wars shows, this series didn’t attract as many viewers. Because of rising production expenses and falling ratings, it was canceled in August 2024. Despite this, the show did receive some positive attention, including a nomination for a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award.

Headland’s observations suggest that fan-made content and online creators are increasingly impacting how we enjoy big franchises like Star Wars. This brings up a fascinating discussion about the relationship between official media and the discussions and reactions it generates online.

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2025-11-21 14:15