Lee Jung-jae got another big project under his belt! Just days after Jodie Turner-Smith signed on for a major role in Disney Plus’ Star Wars series The Acolyte, the Squid Game actor signed for male lead. Lee Jung-jae, who is up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the Emmy Awards this weekend, has landed his first major studio role, the male lead in the new Star Wars series, as reported by Deadline.
Further details about his role is yet to be revealed, though he joins both Turner-Smith and Amandla Stenberg in the highly-anticipated series. The show was first announced back in April 2020, when Headland came on board to spearhead the show. It was described as, ‘a female-centric series that takes place in a different part of the Star Wars timeline than other projects.’
Disney officially announced the project in December 2020, describing The Acolyte as, ‘a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.’ The High Republic Era in Star Wars lore takes place roughly 200 years before the Skywalker era in the original Star Wars films. The High Republic Era was largely a time of peace, where the Jedi order thrived and believed the Sith had been extinct for centuries, as per the outlet.
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The Acolyte title most likely refers to The Acolyte Program, a government program designed to find Force-sensitive youth to become Sith Acolytes for the Galactic Empire, training under a Sith Lord. Production on The Acolyte is slated to begin in London in late Fall. However, Disney Plus’ Star Wars Series ‘The Acolyte’ release date has also not been revealed. Headland will create the series and serve as an executive producer, though no further details were given for the creative staff.
Lee could be the first Asian actor to win Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Seong Gi-hun in Netflix’s global sensation Squid Game. He will be going up against Jason Bateman (Ozark), Brian Cox (Succession), Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Adam Scott (Severance) and Jeremy Strong (Succession). The multi-talented actor also stars in and directs Hunt, which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May.