‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ aired its finale last week, wrapping up its eight-episode run with a tease of two major cameos that suggest a promising future for a potential second season.

Among these cameos, Yoda’s appearance has particularly excited fans. Even before the show premiered, there was speculation about whether the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order would make an appearance. Given the timeline and Yoda’s long lifespan, it made sense for him to be present in the majority of Star Wars installments up to now.

Before the show premiered, Leslye Headland hinted at how great it would be to include Yoda, leading many to believe the character wouldn’t appear. It turns out, this was a closely guarded secret for a reason.

Hanelle M. Culpepper, director of Episodes 6 and 8 of ‘The Acolyte,’ revealed to Inverse that Leslye had to fight with the studio to secure Yoda’s inclusion in the show.

That was the hardest secret to keep all this time, because everyone wants to know stuff. I was so excited that I got to work with Yoda, but I was not able to say anything. Once that scene finally aired — literally once the credits rolled — I was like, “Finally, I can post now!” My husband’s like, “No, wait, because it’s a big spoiler. Give people the chance to see it.” So I haven’t even posted about that yet. But that was such an exciting day for me and Leslye when they brought out the trunk that he was in and you see him there, and with the puppeteer, it’s just amazing how they use the eyes and ears and make it come to life. I massively geeked out on that day. […] She really had to fight for it, actually, but it was all a part of her plan. I give her so much credit for getting it.

Culpepper later explained that Lucasfilm is very protective of Yoda and his legacy, requiring strict adherence to certain rules. Since Yoda may appear in future projects, his appearances must be carefully considered to ensure they fit within the broader narrative.

[Lucasfilm] is just very, very protective of the brand and what happens to the characters. There’s other storylines being developed by Lucasfilm as well, so it all has to fit together. It has to make sense.

If ‘The Acolyte’ is renewed for a second season, fans are likely expecting both Yoda and Darth Plagueis to take on more prominent roles. However, given the constraints mentioned by Culpepper, this may not be the case. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below!