Fans Say The Acolyte Fizzled — But the Dark Side Still Has Its Fans

Star Wars: The Acolyte might’ve ended before it ever really took off. The Disney+ show — set in the High Republic era, long before Anakin Skywalker ever swung a lightsaber — landed with a thud for many fans, who felt it never fully delivered on its promise. And now, with no word of a second season, a growing chorus of voices online is pushing for Disney to pivot to something darker, richer, and with more Sith.

A lot of viewers are throwing out the same name: Darth Plagueis.

Not everyone hated The Acolyte. Some praised its ambition and praised its attempt to carve out a new narrative niche in a galaxy that’s long leaned too heavily on Skywalker nostalgia. Still, the consensus? It didn’t quite stick the landing.

So where does that leave us?

A galaxy full of promise — and canceled storylines

The show closed out its run with an appearance from Darth Plagueis, the legendary Sith Master mentioned by Emperor Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith. That tease? It got fans buzzing.

Was this a setup for Season 2?

Not likely, say most longtime observers of Disney’s Star Wars strategy. There’s been no announcement, and after lukewarm reception and middling viewership, another season seems almost out of the question. But the fact that the show introduced such a powerful, fan-favorite figure so late in the game feels like unfinished business.

“I don’t think it’d be a Plagueis show,” one Redditor wrote, “but maybe something with Qimir?” That name keeps coming up too — and not just casually.

Qimir: the breakout character nobody expected

Even among critics of The Acolyte, Qimir was a rare bright spot. Played with a cool menace and disarming charisma, the character had a magnetic presence that drew viewers in — even those ready to turn the show off halfway through.

Many fans think Qimir deserves his own spinoff. Some are even pitching concepts online, blending the best of The Acolyte’s tone with broader Sith mythology.

Here’s what fans want to see:

• A continuation of Qimir’s arc, exploring his connection to other Sith Lords.

• Flashbacks that explain his past, especially any link to Plagueis or Tenebrous.

• A darker, more philosophical tone — less space politics, more inner conflict and shadowy plots.

In short? Fans are ready for something bold.

So… why won’t Disney just make it?

This is where things get sticky. Disney’s relationship with the High Republic era has always been… cautious. It’s new territory, and unlike familiar timelines — Original Trilogy, Clone Wars, post-Episode IX — it’s not anchored by known characters or emotional nostalgia.

The High Republic publishing initiative was met with moderate interest, but it’s not the cultural juggernaut of, say, The Mandalorian or Andor. And when The Acolyte didn’t generate heat, it spooked executives already wary of straying too far from the “safe” parts of the timeline.

Financially speaking, Disney’s streaming strategy has been under pressure. CEO Bob Iger has made clear that the company is trimming fat across its streaming platforms. That means fewer experimental shows and more projects that guarantee buzz.

No buzz? No sequel.

The Darth Plagueis temptation: can it be ignored forever?

It’s honestly baffling how long Disney has avoided making a Darth Plagueis show. Fans have begged for it for over a decade. The character is fascinating — a Sith Master who could manipulate life and death? That’s not just cool lore, that’s prestige drama material.

And yet, nothing.

Plagueis appeared briefly at the end of The Acolyte, and fans instantly latched on. A user named “The-Mandalorian” posted: “Could we get a Darth Plagueis series that wraps up any remaining Acolyte plot points?”

Others chimed in, suggesting that a live-action Stranger/Plagueis series could pick up where The Acolyte left off. But again — silence from Disney.

Here’s a look at how fans ranked potential spinoff appeal, based on a recent Reddit survey in r/StarWars:

Is the Old Republic still taboo?

Here’s the odd part. Disney owns some of the richest, darkest Star Wars lore ever written — the Legends content, formerly the Extended Universe. That includes Darth Plagueis (by James Luceno), Darth Bane, and Revan. Yet they treat it like forbidden fruit.

Why?

Maybe it’s fear of scaring off casual fans. Maybe it’s just corporate inertia. Or maybe it’s just not a priority. But it seems strange to have this treasure trove of storytelling potential — full of political betrayal, spiritual corruption, and galaxy-shaking choices — and just let it gather dust.

Especially when Andor proved that fans will watch darker, more complex material — if it’s good.

They have the chessboard, the pieces, the players — but nobody’s making a move.

What’s next? Probably nothing. But…

The Acolyte’s soft landing probably sealed its fate, and if Disney decides to abandon this timeline altogether, it won’t surprise anyone. But if they’re paying attention, they’ll see the enthusiasm brewing online.

There’s demand. There’s lore. There’s talent. There’s even a potential Emmy-worthy villain in Qimir.

All they need is the will to try again. Or to let someone else do it — Dave Filoni, maybe? He’s earned that trust.

But until then, fans will keep posting. Keep hoping. Keep arguing on Reddit and writing fan scripts on Discord and imagining the show that could’ve been.

And maybe — someday — the Dark Side will rise again.