The Acolyte crew built lightsabers for the new Star Wars show that could be used “the way Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn use them”

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

The Acolyte has perhaps more lightsabers on screen at one time than any other Star Wars show before it – but they’re not just there for show.

To help make the most out of the martial arts-inspired fight scenes, the production team behind the Disney Plus series built bespoke lightsabers to help its actors move like some of the prequels’ greatest lightsaber wielders, including a certain Darth Maul.

"I want[ed] to use the type of lightsabers that you can actually duel with as opposed to utilizing sticks that you then CGI in later," The Acolyte creator and showrunner Leslye Headland tells GamesRadar+ ahead of the release of the new Disney Plus series.

Headland even learnt lessons from the sequel trilogy of Star Wars films, which featured heavier, bulkier lightsabers for its actors to throw down with. "That affected the way Daisy [Ridley] and Adam [Driver] fought because they wanted to have that practical lighting," Headland explained.

Instead, the showrunner asked the props team "to create lightsabers that could be utilized the way Darth Maul or Qui-Gon Jinn use them, but they also had to light up for the practical light effects".

Headland added: "I do have to thank the props department for making that happen – it did start with them saying we can’t do that!"

The end result? You won't have to wait long to find out, but we expect there's a reason why actor Manny Jacinto referred to the iconic Duel of the Fates clash between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn a year ago.

For more, check out The Acolyte release schedule, The Acolyte episodes 1-4 review, and our interview with creator Leslye Headland on why she chose The High Republic era as the setting for the Star Wars series. Then, there's all the latest news on upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.