Jodie Turner-Smith (White Noise) is currently finalizing a deal with Disney+ to join the streamer’s upcoming Star Wars series, The Acolyte, as reported by Deadline. On July 22nd, actor Amandla Stenberg confirmed via an Instagram post that they would star in the series, although they did not confirm details surrounding their character.
The Acolyte is a mystery thriller which follows the emergence of dark-side powers in the concluding days of the High Republic era. As described by Deadline, an acolyte is an individual who learned force abilities from an experienced Sith Lord. Two-time Emmy Award nominee Leslye Headland (Russian Doll, Single Drunk Female) serves as the series creator.
Turner-Smith’s recent credits include Kogonda’s After Yang, AMC+’s Anne Boleyn, Stefano Sollima’s Without Remorse, Melina Matsoukas’s Queen & Slim, and Cinemax’s original series Jett. She has earned three NAACP Image Award nominations across various projects. Turner-Smith will star opposite Succession’s Brian Cox in the upcoming film, The Independent, directed by two-time Emmy Award nominee Amy Rice (Lindsay). Turner-Smith has also boarded Jeremy Garelick’s Murder Mystery 2 and Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey.
Stenberg’s recent turns include roles in Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies, Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen, Netflix’s The Eddy, and Amma Asante’s Where Hands Touch. They also starred in George Tillman Jr.’s The Hate U Give, a project which earned them an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.
Representatives for Turner-Smith and Lucasfilm have yet to comment on the series. Per Deadline, The Acolyte will begin production in London in late fall.