Sci-Fi Show Creator ‘Not Surprised’ by Cancellation After Shocking 2.5/5 Rating!

Premiered last summer on Disney+, this Star Wars series didn’t achieve the expected success. Even with a whopping budget of $230 million (almost $30 million per episode for a total of eight), The Acolyte stands as one of the biggest failures of the renowned sci-fi saga.

Was the show’s fate sealed even before its debut?

Beyond disastrous ratings, both critics and viewers heavily criticized the show. With an average viewer rating of 2.5 out of 5, it currently sits as the lowest-rated Star Wars series on our site (even The Book of Boba Fett, widely seen as a colossal disaster, has a higher average rating of 3.1/5).

Despite a promising start, the series experienced a decline in viewership over the weeks. Even before its premiere, the show was subject to social media smear campaigns. Some groups even renamed it The Wokalist (sic), referring to its diverse cast.

Series creator candidly discusses the show’s cancellation

The cancellation of The Acolyte didn’t come as a surprise to anyone, including the show’s team. In an interview with The Wrap, series creator Leslye Headland spoke openly about the show’s premature end.

“It was not a surprise to me. (…) Once I started receiving calls about the public and critical response and the show’s ratings, I thought: ‘OK, now it’s clear, I got the message'”, said the American writer. “I fully respect the decision made, although it saddens me.”

However, The Acolyte’s failure won’t deter Leslye Headland from standing by the series, or dampen her passion for the Star Wars saga. “I have no regrets”, the show’s creator admits. The first and only season is now exclusively available on Disney+.

Check out the list of series currently available on the platform!