With the release of The Acolyte,Star Wars embarks on its first live-action venture set in the time before the Skywalker Saga. Known to Star Wars book fans as The High Republic, this era witnesses the Jedi at their peak, serving as beacons of light and life shining brightly throughout the galaxy. However, a looming darkness threatens to be the first domino in the eventual fall of the Order.

Despite its announcement long ago, the premiere of the series is not too far, far away. As with all new Star Wars stories, The Acolyte will shape the Star Wars galaxy and its future trajectory. With that in mind, here are three reasons everyone can be excited for this new addition to the collection.

Exploring a New Era

The Acolyte finds itself in a unique position on the Star Wars timeline. While still a part of The High Republic era—a time of peace and prosperity where light and life reign supreme—the era of the prequels, and thus the threat of the Sith’s return they bring, creeps ever closer.

Through exploring this era, creator Leslie Headland can accomplish something no Star Wars creator has done before: truly explore the changes in the Order that would lead to their fall. By the time of the prequels, the Order was already nearing the end of its evolution into a dogmatic political body that could be exploited by the Sith. Audiences were asked to accept that this is who the Jedi were. However, the High Republic novels present a different, more virtuous, and diverse Jedi Order, connected with but not run by the will of the Republic. Headland has a chance to show how point A led to point B, forever redefining how fans understand the Skywalker Saga and Star Wars as a whole.

Focusing on the Dark Side

While the majority of Star Wars stories center around the Jedi and their heroic escapades, The Acolyte promises to take a new approach by focusing on the Sith and their disciples, thus spotlighting the dark side of the Force in a manner heretofore unheard of. In doing so, the story will delve into the psychology of power, temptation, and corruption as the title character becomes increasingly entrenched in the dark side.

Apart from Anakin Skywalker, audiences have yet to witness a character actively embrace or succumb to the allure of the dark side. Instead, stories like the sequel trilogy or Attack of the Clones show characters—Ben Solo and Count Dooku, respectively—who have already fallen. In contrast, The Acolyte will likely show a character actively choosing the dark side for its nature rather than out of desperation or pain. This focus on the dark side as a viable option will add a layer of complexity to the mythos of Star Wars as it challenges viewers to confront the nature of evil and the choices that define us.

Intrigue and Mystery

One of the most exciting and compelling elements of The Acolyte is not the era nor the dark side it explores, but rather the genre the series will be encapsulated by. A tale of suspense and mystery, the series promises to unravel ancient evils, thrive on clandestine conspiracies, and keep audiences on the edge of their seats as the truth is slowly revealed in a way unique in the Star Wars galaxy.

In the past, mysteries in Star Wars had known conclusions. We knew Palpatine did it. We knew Ahsoka didn’t. The journey to get to the point where the characters in the story knew the same was certainly exciting, but the stories didn’t keep audiences coming back to see if their theories and inferences were right. The Acolyte, if it lives up to the hype, will.

Undoubtedly and undeniably, venturing into this yet unexplored genre has the potential to reshape how Star Wars stories are told going forward by proving that Star Wars can work in and through every genre of storytelling. If it is a success, both with audiences and with critics, the momentum it will provide for risk-taking by future creators will refresh a story far too often caught by the nostalgia trap. However, if it fails… well, no pressure, Leslie.