Finnish actor Joonas Suotamo, best known for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise, is set to take on a new role in the upcoming Disney Plus series The Acolyte, playing Wookiee Jedi Master Kel Naka. The announcement was made on Friday morning at Star Wars Celebration in London.
Joonas Suotamo’s previous work as Chewbacca has made him a fan-favorite in the Star Wars universe and fans are excited to see him take on a different role in the franchise. At 6-foot-11, Suotamo is the perfect actor to play a Wookiee Jedi and his previous experience working on Star Wars sets will undoubtedly serve him well in his latest role.
In addition to the casting news, Lucasfilm also revealed a brand new logo for The Acolyte. The logo features a striking design that incorporates the the title of the series in bold, futuristic lettering.
A sneak peek at The Acolyte was also shown to Star Wars Celebration attendees, as reported by Variety. While the show is still in production, the exclusive footage showcased some exciting scenes that left the audience in awe. Among them were shots of a grand Jedi temple, a thrilling fight sequence between Carrie-Anne Moss and Amandla Stenberg, a golden lightsaber and a climactic moment where a group of Jedis ignite their sabers in unison.
What to expect from The Acolyte
The Acolyte is set to take place about 100 years prior to the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The series follows a former Padawan who reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate crimes, only to confront more sinister forces than expected. Leslye Headland, the co-creator of Netflix’s popular series Russian Doll, is developing the series, which is expected to debut on Disney Plus in 2024.
The Acolyte also stars Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman and Margarita Levieva. Stenberg, Lee and Jacinto are said to be playing the lead characters of the upcoming series.
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