Lee Jung-jae, who rose to international fame for his role in the hit Netflix series Squid Game, has joined the Star Wars universe in the new Disney+ series The Acolyte. Lee plays Jedi Master Sol, a respected and powerful Jedi in the High Republic era, a century before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
The series is described as a mystery-thriller. Lee’s Master Sol will team up with Amandla Stenberg’s character, Mae, in an investigation that will bring them face-to-face with a dangerous adversary from Sol’s past.
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Show creator Leslye Headland was effusive in her praise for Lee’s performance. She said, “[He] is the best actor I have ever worked with. Watching him perform in English for the first time, and tracking the emotional beats, doing so much of his own action. He brought an incredible depth and complexity to the role of Master Sol, and I can’t wait for audiences to see him in a galaxy far, far away.”
The trailer, which features Lee training young Padawans, was released on March 20. Fans and critics have expressed positive reactions. Some fans have welcomed Lee’s casting, with one saying “It’s fantastic to see more Asian representation in Star Wars.”
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The Acolyte will also feature Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Bennett, Dafne Keen, Manny Jacinto, Joonas Suotamo, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Carrie-Ann Moss.
Where and When to Watch:
The Acolyte will premiere in the UK on June 5 with a double-episode launch on Disney+.
