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The initial press releases painted The Acolyte as a series centered around a female protagonist, with heavy emphasis on identity politics. Leslie Headland, the showrunner, known for her previous work with controversial figures and a background tied to Hollywood's darker side, was at the helm. The narrative was described as exploring an apprentice craving the power of her master, with hints at darker, more complex themes. Fans worried that the series would stray far from George Lucas’s original vision, which prioritized storytelling rooted in mythic archetypes rather than contemporary social themes.