For the creation of a Jedi The Acolytefilmmaker Leslye Headland said she was inspired by a very specific scene from the “Special Edition” of Star Warswhen the films were released in theaters in 1997, in a modified version.
Series The Acolyte will be broadcast exclusively on Disney+, from June 4, 2024. The streaming service is available from 5.99 euros per month, or from 29.99 euros per month with the Canal + Ciné Séries offer.
Any fan of Star Wars knows: there is not just one version of the films, but several. Since the cinema release of the very first feature film in 1977, director George Lucas has often retouched his work. This is what made us write that you have probably never seen the true original version of Star Wars. In any case, if you are young.
One of the most famous modifications is the one from 1997, called “Special Edition”. It was a re-release of the trilogy in cinemas to celebrate twenty years of the cinematographic saga. She was remembered because of the new dynamic given in the duel between Han Solo and Greedo in the cantina. Before Han Solo shot first. In 1997, it was Greedo.
The Special Edition covered all three films. New scenes have been added, the image has been updated and the special effects have been adjusted. And in fact, one of them had an influence on Leslye Headland, the director and screenwriter who was entrusted with the project The Acolyte — a series Star Wars which will happen in the past.
The influence of the Special Edition on The Acolyte
In a promotional article published on March 19 on the official website of Star Warsit is written that the filmmaker “ infused the story with his love of the original films, current books, and lore from the Expanded Universe. » She notably declared that she wanted to integrate a specific character, who would echo the Special Edition.
The character in question is called Jecki. According to Lucasfilm, she is a padawan, apprentice to Jedi Master Sol. The description adds that the young woman, although young, shows calm and maturity. However, Jecki is a young woman belonging to the theelin species. More precisely, she is a half-theelin, half-human Jedi.
“ There were some things I really wanted to do. You will see a half-theelin, half-human Jedi, Jecki, played by Dafne Keen, which has always been a dream of mine », says the director. The particularity of the theelin species is to have colored skin and hair. There’s a little punk side to theelins.
However, it was precisely the Special Edition that introduced theelins and half-human, half-theelin hybrids. The filmmaker, continues the official website, “ first fell in love with the species when Rystáll Sant joined the Max Rebo Band in the special edition of Return of the Jedi. » It is in fact in episode VI that gets the ball rolling.
The Max Rebo Band is a musical group that performs in the palace of Jabba the Hutt, on Tatooine. Rystáll Sant serves as singer and dancer, alongside her two colleagues, Greeata Jendowanian (a Rodian) and Lyn Me (a Twi’lek). The three offer a festival of colors, thanks in particular to Rystáll Sant’s red hair.
While Rystáll Sant’s vibrant color is not duplicated on Jecki (her hair is mostly white), there are other similarities. The more or less pigmented and spotted skin, the pale complexion (other shades may however exist) and three small horns which are on each side of the face. Jecki has them, like Rystáll Sant.
Jecki appears to be the first prominent Jedi Theelin to exist in Star Wars (there are other identified members of this species, but which are not of the order). We know that they exist, but their importance has so far been extremely secondary. A bit like Kelnacca: he too will be the first Wookie Jedi on the scene.
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