The Acolyte BTS Video Reveals The Shocking Reason Star Wars Cast Lee Jung-jae As A Jedi Master

Summary Lee Jung-jae was cast as Jedi Master Sol in The Acolyte for his emotional range, as he displayed in Squid Game.

Casting Jung-jae for his ability to display emotions is an unusual choice for a Jedi Master, as they were often expected to be nearly emotionless.

Sol's emotional conflict could play a significant role in The Acolyte's storyline and his relation to other characters in the show.

Lee Jung-jae will play Jedi Master Sol in The Acolyte, and a new behind-the-scenes video revealed that he was cast in the role for a surprising reason. Lee Jung-jae's Jedi Master Sol is a central part of The Acolyte's cast of characters, and he'll likely have a major role in the upcoming Star Wars show. As the current master of Dafne Keen's Jecki Lon and former master of Amandla Stenberg's Mae, Sol seems to be a common thread linking many of the show's characters together.

In a behind-the-scenes video posted by Star Wars Australia & New Zealand, The Acolyte's showrunner, Leslye Headland, said that Jung-jae was cast due to his performance in Squid Game and his ability to convey emotion.

During the video, Headland and another director of The Acolyte, Kogonada, praised Jung-jae's acting abilities, especially his command over his emotions.

"He just ran the gambit of every single emotion. [Jung-jae] knows how to switch from being formidable and then switch to being heartbreaking. I don't know many actors that can do that."

Jung-jae also revealed a bit about how his character handles his emotions, saying, "Many times, Sol tries to keep his feelings in check. He does what he can to contain his emotions and not reveal what he is really feeling inside." The video provides a great insight into Sol as a character and how Jung-jae will approach the role, but it also hints at some of what's to come in The Acolyte.

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What Will Happen To Make Jung-jae's Master Sol Show Such Emotion?

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In the past, Jedi Masters have been expected to be stoic, nearly emotionless figures in Star Wars. In the prequel trilogy, Yoda gave Anakin Skywalker several lessons on the dangers of emotions like fear and anger, but those lessons also extended to broader concepts like emotional attachments. The Jedi Order's avoidance of emotion was a central part of its teachings, so it's odd that a character like Master Sol would require an actor capable of such emotional range. Given his role as a teacher of younglings, it's odd that he struggles to contain his emotions, something most Masters should be more than capable of.

Sol Master Sol is a wise, highly respected, powerful Jedi Master, strong in the ways of the Force, who is going through emotional conflict. Created By Leslye Headland Cast Lee Jung-jae First Appearance The Acolyte RELATIONSHIPS Mae (Former Padawan), Jeckie (Padawan) Alliance Jedi

The fact that Jung-jae was cast for his ability to demonstrate emotion indicates that Sol will face quite a bit of emotional turmoil in The Acolyte. Much of that turmoil will likely come from Mae, Sol's former Padawan who is seemingly involved in the recent Jedi killings the show centers around. Several trailers for The Acolyte have shown Sol and Mae coming to blows, and having to fight his former student would surely be an emotional moment for Sol. That seems like the most likely reason he'll be showing emotion, but it could even speak to more major moments in the show.

The first two episodes of The Acolyte premiere on Disney+ on June 4.

Headland mentioned that Jung-jae is capable of becoming "heartbreaking" at a moment's notice, which indicates The Acolyte will include some truly tragic scenes. What exactly those tragedies involve is hard to say for certain, but there's more than enough room for sad things to happen in the show. The show could reveal Mae had a tragic reason to leave the Jedi Order that involved Sol, or he could have to mourn one of his fellow Jedi after their battle with The Acolyte's Sith Lord. No matter the reason Sol needs to express emotions, it seems to suggest The Acolyte will be as dark as anticipated.

Source: Star Wars Australia & New Zealand