A new theory about The Acolyte, which takes place 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, could completely redefine the Jedi High Council’s role in the fall of the Order. The Acolyte marks a significant departure from most Star Wars movies and TV shows in several ways. From its setting in the High Republic era to its darker tone, The Acolyte has positioned itself as distinct from the rest of the Star Wars timeline. Despite being a new entry in a new era, though, a theory about The Acolyte could mean it will redefine the franchise’s past, and even influence upcoming Star Wars movies.

It was established in The Phantom Menace that the Jedi had thought the Sith extinct for a millennium, which was a major reason they didn’t believe Qui-Gon Jinn when he told them that he had fought a Sith. They were ultimately proven wrong, and their mistake would eventually lead to their destruction at Darth Sidious’ hands. That fact is a fundamental part of the story of the prequel trilogy and the Jedi Order as a whole, but a new theory suggests it may soon be proven wrong. The Acolyte could show that the Council was much more involved in the fall of the Jedi than previously thought.

There’s Evidence The Jedi Knew About The Sith Before The Phantom Menace

Council Members Like Yoda Could Have More Information On The Sith

A theory put forward by social media user QuiGonJenna suggests that the Jedi Council didn’t truly believe the Sith were extinct in The Phantom Menace. As the theory suggests, it seems odd that the Council believed in the Chosen One prophecy surrounding Anakin, as if they thought the Sith were extinct, they would also have believed that balance had already been brought to the Force.

Another mistake made by the Jedi Council was their misinterpretation of the Chosen One prophecy. Since they viewed the Sith as the cause of imbalance in the Force, they then thought the Chosen One would bring balance to the Force by destroying them. The fact that they seriously considered that Anakin could be the Chosen One seems to indicate that they didn’t really believe the Sith were gone in the first place.

There are also some other interesting hints in The Phantom Menace that support this theory. When Qui-Gon first told them of Darth Maul, Ki-Adi Mundi and Mace Windu both responded with shock, yet Yoda was immediately open to the idea that the Sith had returned. While this could simply be a sign of Yoda’s wisdom and open-mindedness, he was also suspiciously unsurprised by the revelation, which might indicate he knew something more. The Council also quickly changed its mind on the likelihood of the Sith’s return after testing Anakin, with Mace calling it “the mystery of the Sith” rather than denying they could have returned.

Those could be signs that Yoda actually knew that the Sith were still around, and that he told the rest of the Council after Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi left. That raises several questions, the biggest of which is how he would have more information about the Sith, and why he hadn’t shared it with them already. Because of his long life, Yoda could appear in The Acolyte, along with other members like Yarael Poof and Oppo Rancisis, which might have given them insight into the mystery of the Sith long before The Phantom Menace.

The Jedi Council May Learn Of The Sith’s Presence In The Acolyte & Ignore It

The Council Could Hide The Sith’s Return To Save Face

The newest trailer for The Acolyte debuted an unidentified Sith Lord during the thousand years the Jedi thought them extinct. While that doesn’t necessarily retcon Ki-Adi-Mundi’s statement in The Phantom Menace, it has raised questions about how the Jedi could still believe the Sith to be extinct after they revealed themselves 100 years prior. The most likely theories so far have suggested that something would make sure the rest of the Order never found out about the Sith Lord, but there may be a simpler and darker explanation.

The theory suggests that the Sith wouldn’t need to remain a secret, as the Jedi High Council of The Acolyte could learn of their return. The reason that wouldn’t retcon The Phantom Menace is, as the theory explains, the High Council might choose to ignore or bury that revelation and keep it hidden from the Order at large. There are a few reasons the Council might take such a drastic action. It could be a decision made to avoid causing panic in the Order, or it could be a product of the very flaws in the organization that led to its downfall.

Star Wars Timeline
Year

High Republic Phase II
382 BBY

High Republic Phase I
232 – 229 BBY

The Acolyte
132 BBY

The Phantom Menace
32 BBY

The Fall of the Jedi
22 – 19 BBY

The High Republic was a golden age for the Jedi Order, and it was largely considered their prime, but by the time of the prequel trilogy, just 100 years later, they were plagued by traditionalism, small-mindedness, and stubbornness. The High Council may have purposefully obscured the Sith Lord to save face and attempt to preserve that golden age, which would go a long way in establishing a through line between the High Republic and the Fall of the Jedi eras. It would show that the problems that led to the Order’s destruction had been festering for centuries, and make their fall from grace less jarring.

If The Jedi Council Knew About The Sith, The Acolyte Could Have A Wildly Different Ending

The Acolyte’s Jedi Wouldn’t Have To Die To Preserve The Sith’s Secret

Previously, the prevailing theory on how The Acolyte would be able to include a Sith Lord without retconning The Phantom Menace was decidedly dark. Many believe that the main Jedi who encounter the Sith Lord could all die at the end of the show, thereby preserving the secret of the Sith. However, if this theory proves true, then the Jedi wouldn’t need to die at the end of The Acolyte to preserve the Sith’s secret. That could even make a potential season 2 of The Acolyte possible, which showrunner Leslye Headland has already teased.

Aside from simply allowing the show’s characters to survive and making The Acolyte season 2 a possibility, having the Jedi learn of the Sith Lord would open up several other opportunities. If the show’s main characters survived such a harrowing experience only to have their leaders brush it under the rug, it could cause quite a bit of backlash. That would be a chance to not only explore how the characters would react to the Council’s flaws, but also offer critiques of the entire Order as a whole. A main theme of The Acolyte is scrutinizing how groups wield power, and this theory fits into it perfectly.

The Acolyte Theory Could Make The New Star Wars Show Truly Groundbreaking

The Acolyte Could Change Star Wars’ Past & Future

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

If this theory about The Acolyte proves true, it would be a truly Earth-shattering revelation. It would completely redefine not only the Jedi High Council, but also the entirety of Star Wars. Rather than the destruction of the Jedi Order being something that an overly complacent and bloated organization was blindsided by, it would make Palpatine’s rise to power something that could have easily been avoided. The Jedi High Council would be directly responsible for the fall of the Jedi due to their own pride and hubris, which would support Luke Skywalker’s claims that they were fundamentally flawed in The Last Jedi.

Both the Sith and other fringe Force groups could become much more complex and compelling in The Acolyte.

In addition to the way it would change perceptions of the Jedi, this theory could also change the way other groups, like the Sith and Mother Aniseya’s Force cult, are viewed. Since they’ll likely be the ones critiquing the Jedi’s power over the galaxy in The Acolyte, this theory would give them significantly more credence. It would also call into question their previously undisputed role as the villains of the galaxy, and raise concerns over what other things they have been right about in the past. Both the Sith and other fringe Force groups could become much more complex and compelling in The Acolyte.

These changes would not only work to redefine the past of Star Wars, they could help define its future as well. Rey Skywalker is set to rebuild the Jedi Order in the upcoming New Jedi Order movie, and part of her challenge will be finding a way to fix the mistakes of the past. This theory about The Acolyte would highlight the need for Rey to balance the dark side and other Force groups rather than trying to ignore them. The Acolyte seems set to shake up Star Wars in many ways, and this theory could make its changes absolutely imperative to the whole franchise.