Summary
Lucasfilm’s newestStar WarsDisney+ TV show,The Acolyte, features lightsabers that are subtly different to those seen before.The Acolyteexplores a new part of the timeline, a cenntury before the events ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which makes it an exciting prospect for the franchise’s future.The series showcases a part of theStar Warstimeline never seen before in live-action, and will show the Jedi Order at their mightiest.
The Acolytewill be featuring a plethora of new Jedi, which also means a variety of new lightsabers, includingJedi Master Vernestra Rwoh’s lightsaber whip. Comments on social media have noted that these lightsabers look a little different to those seen before - they’re thicker.
There’s a logical reason for this, both from a production standpoint and from an in-universe perspective.
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From an out-of-universe, production perspective, the latest lightsaber changes are likely because of Disney’s continuing work refining lightsaber technology. Ever since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012,they have continually made upgrades to lightsabers, to keep them fresh, as well as improve their design. This makes lightsabers more visually appealing, and able to change based on a user’s preference.
Lucasfilm now use LED tubes for their lightsabers, an improvement on older designs where the glows of lightsabers were entirely added in post. The battery packs for these were initially quite bulky; duringThe Mandalorianseason 2, the battery packs for Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano were concealed in her sleeve, meaning the lightsabers couldn’t be used as energetically. More recently, though, Lucasfilm has placed the battery packs inside the hilts, meaning they are more versatile. The batteries explain the thickness ofThe Acolyte’s hilts.
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The Acolyte’s Lightsabers Can Be Explained In-Universe As Well
Personal Preference May Come Into Play
It’s hardly new for Jedi to design their lightsabers themselves, resulting in a wide array oflightsaber types and hilts. From an in-universe perspective, it’s possible the thicker hilts simply reflect changing Jedi fashions. Just a century earlier, Jedi of the High Republic Era favored showy, ostentatious hilts - it’s possible that lightsabers atThe Acolytesimply tended to be thicker, and that the style eventually fell out of fashion by the time of theStar Warsprequels.
As theStar Warsfranchise continues to grow and explore different periods of theStar Warstimeline, it’s entirely reasonable that lightsaber designs change. While the newest lightsaber look inThe Acolytemay feel odd, it doesn’t necessarily make it bad — just different. It’s possible that audiences will get an in-universe explanation for the hilt thickness, but it’s not something to count on. Either way, audiences should be excited to see so many new lightsabers and duels inThe Acolyte.
The Acolytewill release new episodes each Tuesday at 9pm EST on Disney+.
