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Leading the project is Leslie Hedins, a figure with a complex background, including her openness about her queer identity and feminism. Disney's marketing for "The Acolyte" leaned heavily into themes of diversity and representation, with the cast and crew repeatedly emphasizing these aspects over any narrative or lore considerations. This approach was met with skepticism by many fans, who felt it came at the expense of authentic storytelling.
The Trailor Release and Immediate Backlash
When the official trailer for "The Acolyte" finally dropped, it was met with an overwhelmingly negative response. The trailer amassed millions of views—nearly 6 million in just 24 hours—yet the engagement was dominated by ratioed comments, meaning the dislikes vastly outnumbered the likes.