A couple of weeks back known leaker and Star Wars news website, Bespin Bulletin, published some alleged leaked photos from the set of The Acolyte. All were very interesting but then I saw something amazing. Something glorious. Something the world has been needing for 45 years now..
A wookiee Jedi in live action! A big ole good boy to take down bad guys just like Chewbacca. But with force powers and a lightsaber. This has to be the most universally loved revelation, right?!
Check this out.
While we don’t know a whole lot about the plot (officially at least) The Acolyte has been official described by Lucasfilm like this:
The Acolyte is 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. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
Since then showrunner Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) filled in a few blanks in interview with Vanity Fair.
The Acolyte takes place roughly 100 years before The Phantom Menace: A lot of those characters haven’t even been born yet. We’re taking a look at the political and personal and spiritual things that came up in a time period that we don’t know much about. My question when watching The Phantom Menace was always like, ‘Well, how did things get to this point?’ How did we get to a point where a Sith lord can infiltrate the Senate and none of the Jedi pick up on it? Like, what went wrong? What are the scenarios that led us to this moment?’
The Acolyte is still is still in production but is anticipated to his Disney+ at some point in 2024 headlined by actors Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Manny Jacinto. I’m really looking forward to see what htey come up with and how glorious that High Republic gold looks on screen.
NOTE: Check out all Drunk Wooky comic variant checklists here.
Alright so we know there will be Sith, human Jedi, and at least one Wookiee Jedi…
So who’s the wookiee? Given that the lifespan of a wookiee is ~400 years it could be any Wookiee Jedi from the High Republic era through the Clone Wars. Here’s who I think the Wookiee from the leaked pictures COULD be.
Jedi Master Tyvokka
Tyvokka was a Jedi Master in the Galactic Republic who trained famed Jedi Master Plo Koon as an apprentice. Nearly all of Tyvokka’s backstory is considered “Legends” but he himself was canonized in the Star Wars: Workbook: 2nd Grade Reading book by Workman Publishing in June 014. I won’t say I am an expert on that book but Wookieepedia has it listed as canon so I’m just going to believe them.
In Legends Tyvokka first appears in a comic in the 1998 Dark Horse Star Wars run in issue #36. See eBay listings here.
Master Arkoff
Jedi Master Arkoff is a Wookie Jedi Master stationed on the planet Banchii with his former Padawan Lily Tora-Asi during the High Republic. He first appeared in Viz Media Manga, Star Wars: The High Republic: The Edge of Balace Vo.1 by author Daniel Jose Older.
Given how long wookiee’s live he could be in the Acolyte but there is one issue… his fur is much darker than the wookiee that we see in the leaked photos. While the High Republic Manga graphic novels are in black and white Arkoff does appear in color on a promotional image for The High Republic The Fallen Star by artist Phil Noto with dark fur. This rules Arkoff out for me.
Master Arkoff’s first appearance in a single issue comic is the Star Wars The High Republic Edge of Balance FCBD issue from 2021. This issue also includes the first appearance of Stellan Gios and Lily Tora-Asi. Check eBay listings here.
Jedi Padawan Burryaga Agaburry
Burryaga Agaburry was first introduced as the highly empathetic High Republic Jedi Wookiee Padawan in the Light of the Jedi. Burry quickly became a fan favorite character known for being able to sense emotions through the force at an abnormally high level. This ability allowed him to sense distress and fear and then find a way to help out. Burry was a constant support beam for his fellow Jedi when times got tough.
Burryaga was on Starlight as it fell. He and Bell Zettifer were trying to wrangle a few loose Rathtar that were causing havoc on Star Light as it fell. When the other crew had an opportunity to leave Burryaga insisted on fighting off the Rathtars so that his friends could escape. Eventually leading to expose to the vacuum of open space and his presumed death.
That being said there is no way my boy Burry is dead. Not only what it never confirmed, Phase I left off with Burryaga’s best friend Bell Zettifar vowing to continue searching until he finds his friend. I really doubt they would include that just to find out that Burryaga dies in open space.
Unless the character in The Acolyte leaks is a brand new character then I feel confident it will be Burryaga. He would still be allive, has a similar enough shake of fur/hair, and has been a fan favorite of The High Republic so far.
Burryaga’s first cameo appearance (one panel in background and unamed) is Star Wars The High Republic #1, Burryaga’s first cover appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #11 1:10 variant, and his first full appearance is in Star Wars: Life Day #1.
- Check eBay listings for Star Wars: The High Republic #1 here
- Check eBay listings for Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #11 1:10 variant here
- Check eBay listings for Star Wars: Life Day #1 here
I’m personally at 60% that it’s Burryaga and 40% that its a new character.
But I’d like to know what you think. Do you think it’s Burryaga? Someone new? Master Tyvokka?
The real answer is WHO CARES?!?! We are GETIING A KRIFFING WOOKIE JEDI IN LIVE ACTION!!! Whoever it is I will love them until the end of time.
Until next time..
For light and life.
Grand Admiral Frik
