Lee Jung-jae strikes successful Hollywood debut in 'Star Wars' series 'The Acolyte'

Movies

Published: 11 Jun. 2024, 08:00 Updated: 11 Jun. 2024, 18:42

Lee Jung-jae strikes successful Hollywood debut in 'Star Wars' series 'The Acolyte'

A still from Disney+ mystery action thriller series ″The Acolyte″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Wednesday will now be "Star Wars" fans' favorite day of the week, at least for the next five weeks, as it will be when Disney+ releases the new mystery action thriller series "The Acolyte." On June 5, it released the first two episodes out of eight, garnering attention with positive reactions from the media and viewers from around the world.

"The Acolyte" started off on a good note, earning a 90 percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes as of Tuesday, calling it another “well-made” Star Wars series for fans to look forward to.

The series is also going strong, as it is this year's biggest hit so far for Disney+, recording a total 11.1 million worldwide views since its release, according to U.S. magazines Variety and The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday. The number of views was calculated by dividing the total viewing time of the content by the running time per episode.

"The Acolyte" takes place in the High Republic era, which was never explored in previous installments and "an earlier time period than any of the "Star Wars" stories that have come before it," according to actor Lee Jung-jae, who stars in the series. As darkness starts to slowly strike in a once peaceful galaxy far, far away, "The Acolyte" introduces never-before-seen Jedi knights and characters, opening a new era of the "Star Wars" franchise. The series centers on the characters who must uncover the mystery behind an unprecedented series of Jedi murders. It also delves into the story behind the emergence of the dark force.

″Squid Game″ (2021) actor Lee Jung-jae speaks during a press conference for Disney+ original series ″The Acolyte″ last Wednesday in Yongsan District, central Seoul. [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

For Korean fans, the latest work is especially unique, as it features "Squid Game" (2021) actor Lee as he makes his Hollywood debut as a Jedi master named Master Sol. Other actors include Amandla Stenberg as Osha and Mae, Manny Jacinto as Qimir and Dafne Keen as Jecki.

“I tried to express a more human, sensible side of Jedi knights, unlike the typical Jedi image,” Lee said during a press conference held in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on June 5. "I think it was a different approach from previous Jedi knights."

"The Acolyte," directed by Leslye Headland, also follows a “touchingly human” storyline, according to Lee, while explaining his impression of its story.

“The sensibility of each character was depicted quite heartwarmingly,” Lee said. “[I could feel] the affectionate connection between the characters and the pain from misunderstanding, which was deeply expressed. Also, their efforts to heal the pain of misunderstanding, no matter what, added a human touch to the scenario.”

A still from Disney+ mystery action thriller series ″The Acolyte″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Lee is the first Asian actor to play a Jedi master, a role that gained controversy among "Star Wars" fans, as many Jedi roles have typically been played by white actors.

“I think it’s natural for such opinions to rise,” Lee said.

“‘The Acolyte’ is set in outer space, where even alien characters appear. So, I believe that it may have been the director’s intention that it would be nice to have more diverse characters,” Lee added.

The depiction of previous Jedi knights shows an influence from Eastern culture, which may have been a key factor in the director’s decision to cast him, according to Lee.

“The series centers on a much older generation of Jedi knights than the previous ones,” Lee said. “When looking into the depiction of previous Jedi knights, there are parts where a glimpse of Eastern culture is seen, such as the attire, martial arts, hairstyles and philosophies.”

“I think that it was natural to bring a Jedi who has an Eastern cultural background when thinking about where these Eastern influences came from, which may be the reason why I was cast,” he added.

A still from Disney+ mystery action thriller series ″The Acolyte″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Lee’s character is also his first English-speaking role. He trained for four months before the shoot with four English teachers to prepare for it.

“I had enough time to get used to the language, so there wasn’t much difficulty while shooting," Lee said. "But there were times we went through takes when the nuance I delivered felt a little bit off, or I didn’t capture the certain feeling that the director had in mind.”

“But the director and the whole staff also showed their patience and understanding, considering that I’m not totally comfortable with English — which I am very thankful for,” he added.

While preparing for the role of Master Sol, the actor referenced Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, played by Liam Neeson.

A still from Disney+ mystery action thriller series ″The Acolyte″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

“I had an idea that I wanted to make a connection between Qui-Gon Jinn and Master Sol,” Lee said. “As Master Sol lived in the era before Qui-Gon Jinn, I imagined Qui-Gon Jinn having some connection, as if he was Sol’s padawan.”

One thing that impressed Lee during the shoots was the props. He says they were made based on the long history of the "Star Wars" franchise, adding that the props are “just not there for no reason” and they all have a “history.”

“The costumes, props and even the set design are things that the franchise has been doing since the 1970s,” Lee said. “You can see that the props seen in ‘The Acolyte’ were created through numerous trials of complementation.”

As Korea is perceived to have a weaker "Star Wars" fan base than other countries, the actor described “The Acolyte” could be a good starting point for newcomers to the franchise.

A still from Disney+ mystery action thriller series ″The Acolyte″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

“Most of the 'Star Wars' series is all connected, which makes the audience watch the preceding and succeeding series to understand the narrative. However, it will be fine for viewers to start off with ‘The Acolyte,’ as it’s a story about an earlier generation.”

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]