Horrific Star Wars Theory Reveals The Real Reason Jedi Are Being Targeted In The Acolyte

Summary Sith acolytes secretly hunted Jedi for a millennium.

Competing Sith acolytes aim to become Sith Lords by hunting and killing Jedi.

The Acolyte hints at a "shocking crime spree," meaning multiple Sith acolytes may be hunting the Jedi.

A chilling Star Wars theory explains why the Jedi are being hunted down and killed in Star Wars: The Acolyte. As the first live-action series set during the High Republic era – an era of the Star Wars timeline set a few centuries before the events of the Star Wars prequel trilogy – The Acolyte can reveal much about the history of the Jedi, the presence of the Sith during that time and the Sith’s mysterious customs. Most importantly, it can reveal how and why the Jedi failed to detect the Sith’s presence for so long, a fatal mistake that eventually led to the downfall of the Jedi Order.

In the official trailer for The Acolyte, it was revealed that “Jedi are being hunted,” and that at least one Jedi was murdered. It has also previously been revealed that much of The Acolyte’s story will focus on the perspective of the Sith and the dark side, providing an opportunity to truly explore how the Sith operate. Aside from the primary “Rule of Two,” very little is known about the Sith, but this all-important creed may just be the key to unraveling the mystery of why the Jedi are being hunted and murdered during this era.

Related Star Wars: The Acolyte - Cast, Story Details & Everything We Know The upcoming Star Wars show The Acolyte will take the franchise into the grand High Republic era, but what mysteries await in the Jedi’s golden age?

Sith Have Secretly Hunted Jedi For A Thousand Years

A thousand years before the High Republic, after the Jedi-Sith war, it was decreed that the Sith would abide by the “Rule of Two.” This rule stated that there could only ever be two true Sith Lords in the galaxy at a time – a Master and an apprentice. The apprentice would usually one day surpass their Master. However, a Master could equally betray their apprentice if they found someone that they believed had more potential, as Darth Sidious did with Maul, Count Dooku, and Darth Vader. With only two true Sith operating at a time, it was easier to remain hidden from the watchful eyes of the Jedi.

A Sith acolyte could prove their worth by killing a Jedi, taking their lightsaber, and bleeding the Jedi’s kyber crystal.

To become a Sith apprentice, a Sith acolyte – a devoted follower of the Sith – could prove their worth by killing a Jedi, taking their lightsaber, and bleeding (essentially corrupting) the Jedi’s kyber crystal. This was a vital rite of passage for any hopeful Sith acolyte who wanted to become an official Sith apprentice. As the Sith never truly disappeared, but simply remained hidden in the shadows, it can be surmised that the Jedi had secretly been hunted by Sith acolytes for a thousand years, but because of their small number, the connection between the killings and the perpetrators was never discovered – until now.

Could This Be A Competition Between Sith Acolytes?

Clearly, in The Acolyte, the Jedi have noticed something is amiss. Now that they’re officially investigating why the Jedi are being hunted, they may find that there are more Sith acolytes in the galaxy than they ever previously thought. It’s entirely possible that a previous Sith apprentice has just ascended to the rank of Master and is looking to take on an apprentice of their own, or a Sith Master has betrayed their former apprentice and is looking to take on someone new.

Star Wars: The Acolyte premieres with two episodes on June 4, 2024, exclusively on Disney+.

Whatever the circumstance may be, the current Sith Master may have told their acolytes to prove their worthiness to them. There may very well be multiple Sith acolytes hunting Jedi down at the tail end of the High Republic era, hoping to become the next Sith apprentice. The more acolytes there are, the more Jedi are being targeted, which may be why the Jedi have started taking note of the issue. The Jedi may very well be embroiled in a horrifyingly twisted competition as hopeful dark side wielders try to prove they are worthy of being a Sith Lord.

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Who Will Prove Themselves Worthy To Become A Sith Apprentice?

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Thus far, the official trailer for The Acolyte seems to suggest two characters affiliated with the Sith are hunting the Jedi, though there may very well be more. The character Mae (Amandla Stenberg), is a former Jedi apprentice. In the trailer, she is seen fighting with numerous Jedi, though it’s left ambiguous whether she is actually a Sith acolyte or something else entirely. Her official character description on StarWars.com reads: “Mae gets swept up into a sinister mystery – one that puts her into the center of a conflict in unexpected ways.” Will she find herself a part of the “competition”? Or is something else going on?

Related Star Wars: The Acolyte Cast & Character Guide Here's everything we know about The Acolyte's cast and the characters they will be portraying in Star Wars' most mysterious project yet.

At the end of the trailer, a figure wielding a red lightsaber is revealed. This figure engages in combat with numerous Jedi, suggesting that they are already quite powerful, or at the very least, feel they are powerful enough to take on multiple Jedi at once. Is this the new Sith Lord? Or are they one of the Sith acolytes? One shot in the trailer suggests that Mae meets this figure near the sea, so it could go either way. Perhaps Mae is trying to size up her competition, or perhaps she’s working undercover to discover the truth about what is happening to the Jedi.

The show may be hiding more Sith acolytes, too, as the synopsis suggests that the hunting and killing of Jedi is becoming suspiciously widespread. In fact, Star Wars has officially labeled it as a “shocking crime spree.” If that many Jedi are being hunted and killed, it stands to reason that there may even be more than a handful of Sith acolytes waiting to strike and claim their place as a Sith Lord. Until Star Wars: The Acolyte is released, however, it’s impossible to know what will happen next.