Disney Exec Breaks Silence on Why ‘The Acolyte’ Got the Axe

Back in August, news broke that The Acolyte, the highly anticipated and somewhat controversial Star Wars series, had been canceled after just one season. Despite its ambitious premise—set centuries before the Skywalker saga—and its intriguing cliffhanger ending, the show won’t be returning for another season.

The cancellation took many by surprise, particularly fans who were eager to see more of its bold direction. Ever since, speculation has run rampant about why the series was cut short.

Critics of the show have claimed it failed because of its so-called “woke” elements, insisting that their online backlash contributed to its demise. Others have suggested that the high production costs made it unsustainable. Now, the speculation ends, as Disney executive Alan Bergman has finally revealed the true reason behind the decision.

Alan Bergman, who heads Disney Entertainment’s content creation and platforms, shed light on the situation during a 2024 year-end interview with Vulture. He revealed that the decision to cancel The Acolyte ultimately boiled down to one key factor: cost. Here’s what he had to say:

Staying on the franchise front, let’s talk Star Wars. It feels like it’s had a bumpier road of late compared to Marvel. The Acolyte had many strong reviews and did well in the ratings its first week out, but you ultimately opted against a second season. Why didn’t you move forward? And can you offer any hint as to how Skeleton Crew is doing, or its future?  

Bergman: So as it relates to Acolyte, we were happy with our performance, but it wasn’t where we needed it to be given the cost structure of that title, quite frankly, to go and make a season two. So that’s the reason why we didn’t do that. Skeleton Crew is in process now, so we’ll see. We’ve seen some growth on that. We’ll see how that goes. As you said, the reviews have been excellent on Skeleton Crew, so we’ll have to see how that all plays out as it moves forward.

Source: Vulture

The Acolyte was one of the most expensive Star Wars series ever produced, with estimates placing its budget between $170 million and $180 million. However, UK filings revealed that Lucasfilm actually spent £172 million (around $231 million) on the series.

Given such a significant investment, the show needed to attract strong viewership to justify the cost of a second season. However, Bergman explained that while they were pleased with the show’s performance, it ultimately didn’t meet the demand needed to justify its high production costs.

The cancellation left many fans disappointed, especially since the first season ended on a cliffhanger. Viewers had been hoping for more, particularly with the promise of a second season that would explore even more exciting storylines.

One of the most highly anticipated aspects of The Acolyte was the live-action debut of Darth Plagueis, a character many Star Wars fans had been eager to see explored. With the show now canceled, viewers are left frustrated, feeling as though they’ve missed out on something significant.

The Acolyte wasn’t the only recent Star Wars series to face challenges, however. Skeleton Crew, another show in the franchise, reportedly had a budget of around $136 million.

Initial signs for Skeleton Crew weren’t promising—its premiere didn’t even crack the streaming top 10—but word of mouth has been more positive since then. This raises the question of whether Skeleton Crew will face a similar fate as The Acolyte, or if it can build a larger audience.

While The Acolyte was met with criticism and disappointment, Skeleton Crew seems to be receiving more favorable reactions. For now, Lucasfilm appears to have a win on its hands with this series.

There are still more Star Wars series on the horizon. Fans can look forward to Andor season 2, Ahsoka season 2, and several other upcoming projects that promise to deliver fresh stories within the Star Wars universe.

With The Acolyte now canceled, it’s clear that Lucasfilm faces some major decisions moving forward. The cancellation will likely impact how future shows are approached, particularly in balancing production costs with audience demand.

For now, the future of Star Wars TV is uncertain, with both excitement and questions surrounding the franchise’s next moves.

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