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The Acolyte might have been canceled almost two years ago, but new details about the show are still surfacing.
The latest is more information on the mysterious link between the Stranger, AKA Qimir, and Kylo Ren.
In the new book The Art of the Acolyte, the creatives behind the show expanded more on the connections. The Stranger's helmet was deliberately designed to be similar to Kylo Ren's, with creature artist Nick Tyrell explaining: "The slight frill at the back of the helmet – a design element that dates back to the franchise's samurai influence and notably first seen in Vader's design – hints at a link between the Stranger and the Star Wars sequel trilogy's masked antagonist Kylo Ren, an idea storytellers took from the design." (H/T The HoloFiles)
"It felt like it foreshadowed a possible connection to the Knights of Ren with the Kylo Ren shape we landed on," showrunner Leslye Headland explained. "We just started to go in that direction. It was in the design of the character, as well as knowing that we were going to introduce Darth Plagueis, who has to end up with Palpatine as his apprentice. Following the Rule of Two – a precept that limited the Sith to just two at any given time, a master and an apprentice – one way to keep it going is if the Stranger is the first knight of Ren, part of a Sith-adjacent culture that we know eventually survives."
Plus, Star Wars fans noticed at the time that music cues in The Acolyte seemed to be the same as Kylo Ren's in the sequel trilogy – which Headland reveals in the book was a purposeful decision.
"And since we never name him," Headland adds, "you don't know: Does he have a first name and then his last name is Ren? Is he the original Ren? It's a good way to nod to it without having to give away too much information."
Kylo Ren – or at least Ben Solo – almost made a comeback in a new Star Wars movie from Steven Soderbergh, starring Adam Driver. However, Disney vetoed the idea, despite Lucasfilm being behind it. Fans haven't given up on it, though, so maybe we'll see The Hunt for Ben Solo someday.
The Art of the Acolyte is available from this February 3, while The Acolyte is available to stream on Disney Plus. Next up for Star Wars is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters this May 22.
In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.
