Star Wars' Acolyte Teaser Makes "Force-Fu" As Cool As A Lightsaber Fight

Summary The Acolyte introduces "Force-fu" combat, showcasing hand-to-hand martial arts over lightsaber fights, offering a fresh take in Star Wars.

The fight sequence between Mae and Indara displays brilliant choreography, with dynamic camera work and intense martial arts movements.

The absence of lightsabers in The Acolyte makes the iconic weapons even more significant, as their appearance marks a serious turn in the fight.

The new footage from The Acolyte debuts "Force-fu," a type of Star Wars combat that is just as cool as a lightsaber fight. Given that May 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Lucasfilm re-released the film in theaters. This was accompanied by a special look at an upcoming Star Wars TV show, The Acolyte. The Acolyte is set in Star Wars' High Republic era, 100 years before Episode I, explaining the decision to attach new footage to the film's re-release.

The footage released centers on an action sequence between Mae and Master Indara, played by Amandla Stenberg and Carrie-Anne Moss respectively in The Acolyte's ensemble cast. In the sequence, Mae - a dark side assassin - is shown entering a cantina. Mae begins attacking the people sitting around Jedi Master Indara, leading to a lengthy confrontation between the two. Through this duel, The Acolyte seems to debut a style of action that is equally as cool as lightsaber fights, "Force-fu."

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The Acolyte's Fight Sequence Has Brilliant Choreography - Without Star Wars' Iconic Lightsabers

As Mae and Indara engage one another, it becomes clear that the fight sequence is different to anything else in Star Wars. Rather than have the two draw their lightsabers and begin clashing as is common in the franchise, the fight sequence largely centers around hand-to-hand martial arts. Despite this, The Acolyte's choreography is absolutely fantastic. From the actors' performances, the stunts on show, and the fluidity of the blocking, The Acolyte's martial arts fight may seem normal albeit impressive in regular Hollywood action movies, yet is fresh for Star Wars' sci-fi universe.

This is all bolstered by the dynamic camera of The Acolyte's fight scene, which moves seamlessly with the action to create an engrossing, captivating confrontation. This marital artistry is naturally tied to the Force, creating a sense of "Force-fu." More so than other projects like Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi, however, The Acolyte's choreography stands out, creating a level of action sequence that will hopefully be maintained across the show's eight episodes.

The Acolyte will begin airing on June 5, 2024, with a two-episode premiere, before releasing weekly to a total of eight installments.

The Acolyte Makes Drawing A Lightsaber A Statement Of Intent

Star Wars' Lightsabers Are Made Even More Important By Their Absence In The Acolyte

Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook

The footage from The Acolyte is short on lightsabers, though it makes them even more crucial to Star Wars action than ever before. For much of the fight, Indara looks to be in complete control. Her hand-to-hand skills are superior to Mae's, and she never looks as though she needs to use anything but her own abilities. However, toward the end of the sequence, Mae launches a volley of knives at Indara, with the Jedi drawing her laser sword for the first time.

When she ignites the lightsaber, it shows she is now taking this fight more seriously.

This moment immediately stands out as a statement of intent. Before this, Indara's control over the duel proved she did not need to draw her lightsaber. When she ignites the lightsaber, it shows she is now taking this fight more seriously. Her hesitancy to use the lightsaber until this point underlines the significance of the moment when she does, allowing The Acolyte's "Force-fu" to be just as cool as laser sword duels, while making the iconic weapons that much more important to the franchise.