In December 2022, Deadline announced that actor Margarita Levieva had joined the highly anticipated series, Star Wars: The Acolyte. While noted at the time this was for a guest role, it was still exciting casting.
Over a year later, as fan anticipation ramps up for the new The Phantom Menace prequel series premiering on Disney+ on June 4th, two characters and two actresses remain so shrouded in mystery. They aren’t even mentioned in the series promotional material on StarWars.com.
Per the website, “The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.” However, it only takes a quick look that Levieva is not there. We have no information yet for her character or that of actor Amy Tsang (who hasn't been officially announced, but from IMDb, we know she is in the series). We also don’t see either actress in any of the new production stills or the new trailer unless it’s in such a shadow we can’t see their faces.
Out of the ten characters we know something about, six are confirmed Jedi (the characters of Sol, Jecki Lon, Yord Fandar, Vernestra Rwoh, Kelnacca, and Indara). Out of the other four, we have one smuggler, Qimir, one other undisclosed role played by Dean-Charles Chapman, and one Mother Aniseya, “the leader of a coven of Force witches” sounding something like the Nightsisters or a member of The Path of the Open Hand.
The last character we know something about is the main role, Mae, played by Amandla Stenberg, “a former Padawan learner who is now a dangerous warrior,” according to ComicBook.com.
Per Disney promotional material, The Acolyte is about “an investigation into a shocking crime spree.” The trailer tells us that “Someone is killing Jedi, and it doesn’t make sense.” At least one person seems to be targeting the Jedi, and that is the main character, Mae. If Mae never made it to the rank of Jedi Knight, something or someone could have corrupted her as a Padawan into the fury who attacks Indara in the trailer. Perhaps this mystery person is Levieva's character, pulling all the strings from the shadows.
As the old aphorism goes, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Lucasfilm certainly is keeping Margarita Levieva and Amy Tsang very close to the vest.
Could they be the major corrupting influence that sets Mae against Jedi Master Indara, and, presumably, the other murdered Jedi, as well? And if Sol is set against a dangerous warrior from his past, is it Mae? Or is it Margarita Levieva or Amy Tsang's character?
Tune in June 4th to find out!