Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Acolyte, Rogue Squadron… Women are finally taking over the Star Wars saga

“It’s about time.”

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… women were not present in the making of films Star Wars.

The broadcast of the trailer for The Acolytethis week, marks the opportunity to focus on an important element of this series derived from the universe of Star Warsby George Lucas: this is the studio's first show entirely directed by a woman.

Leslie Headland (Bachelorette, Russian doll) thus directs Amanda Stenberg (The Hate You Give, The Eddy), Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game), Jodie Turner Smith (Anne Boleyn), Carrie-Anne Moss (Matrix), as well as Dafne Keen (Logan, His Dark Materials) during eight episodes whose action takes place a century before the history of The Phantom Menace.

Interviewed by IGN about this, she said to herself “very proud to be the first woman to create, produce, direct and show a series Star Wars. Obviously, Deborah Chow directed Obi-Wan, and many, many women have contributed to the films, but to be the person at the center of the narrative, the word that comes to mind is a true honor. It's so special to me.“

The Acolyte: Carrie-Anne Moss and Lee Jung-jae open a new era of Star Wars (trailer)

Previously, you had to take a lot of courage to acquire derivative products Star Wars in the image of female characters. It is nevertheless possible to fall back on the literary and gaming heritage which contains its share of characters badassparticularly in Knights of the Eternal Throne and its formidable female Jedi. Timothy Zahnthe author of the trilogy which “saved Star Wars“, included key characters in his novels, notably Mara Jade, intimately linked to Luke Skywalker.

If Natalie Portman And Carrie Fisher have played strong female roles from the first trilogy and the prelogy, behind the camera, there were few representatives of the female gender from the origins of Star Wars.

One woman still managed to integrate her screenwriting pen, Leigh Brackettfor'Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980). The casting director, Dianne Crittenden who disappeared a few days ago, had supervised the 3,500 auditions for the recruitment of the castingA New Hope. Marcia Lucas helped her husband put together his trilogy, managing to impose his ideas with conviction. However, these names remain unknown to this day, hidden behind those of George Lucas, Abrams, Ryan Johnson Or Irvin Kershner.

However, this is changing. Women are placed at the helm of the franchise prized by a community passionate about the galactic epic. Directors and screenwriters establish themselves as showrunners for series Obi Wan Kenobi And Star Wars: The Acolytetherefore, but also in the cinema with the project Rogue Squadronby Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) or Star Wars: Episode X with Daisy Ridley.

Even if Obi-Wan Kenobi will not have a season 2, the decade taking place after the events of Revenge of the Sith (2005) was able to convince. The undoubted charisma ofEwan McGregor is tailor-made for the character who has lost none of his chivalrous presence as a Jedi master. Deborah Show, creator of the series, told Tele-Leisure modernity injected into the phenomenon with a phallic touch of the lightsaber:

“Yes. I was very excited to introduce the character of Riva, played by Moses Ingram, in the series, for several reasons. As you pointed out, there haven't been many female characters from the dark side of the Force, especially in live-action projects. So I was very excited to introduce sort of a young woman in that side. A young woman who is very powerful and very evil, you know?“

The series is not classified as “finished“, the president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy announced that she was not ruling out a sequel one day: “I'm not saying it will ever happen, because there's always a possibility. Because the show has been very well received and because the director Deborah Chow has done a spectacular job,” collected Variety.

After rumors from the corridors concerning tension between the director and the screenwriter, Star Wars: Episode Xmust be led by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Mrs. Marvel) filmmaker of Pakistani origin. This must collaborate with Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) on a timeline which will be fifteen and after The Rise of Skywalker. Rey will be responsible for establishing a New Jedi Order there.

The director mentioned the importance of directing a Star Wars film as a woman: “It's 2024 now, and it is high time that a woman comes to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away“, she declared to CNN at the start of 2024.

After the cancellation of Wonder Woman 3, Patty Jenkins takes up the file at arm's length Rogue Squadron, which as its title indicates, focuses on fighter pilots from the galactic universe, previously explored in a few episodes, notably during the epic Battle of Hoth between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Without counting Jaina Solo, we will see on the new Star Wars series how Top Gunwill provide a new fighter pilot heroine…

Why Daisy Ridley agreed to come back to make Star Wars

In addition, the new series have developed capable female characters, new figures like Mae, Jecki Lon, Asajj Ventress, Ahsoka or Satine Kryze who support in front of the camera this new momentum of parity which hovers over the star-studded franchise.

Disney+ intends to unveil the first two episodes of The Acolyte THE June 4, 2024 on its platform. Here is the trailer:

Why will The Acolyte be a different series from The Mandalorian and Andor?