The Acolyte star Manny Jacinto was also taken by surprise by that major Star Wars cameo in the finale.
Now, the following will delve into major spoilers for The Acolyte episode 8, so turn back now if you're not up to date!
If you're still reading, then you'll know the finale featured a huge shock dark side cameo: Darth Plagueis. He's eventually the Master of Darth Sidious, AKA Emperor Palpatine, but it seems he's currently living on the same island as Qimir.
"Oh man. At this point I cannot confirm or deny if that's Darth Plagueis," Jacinto told Entertainment Weekly (though, showrunner Leslye Headland has confirmed the Sith Lord is indeed who we think in an interview with Collider). "But I will say this: I am experiencing that as purely as a viewer. I did not know that that was going to happen. I saw all eight episodes months ago, and that specific moment was blacked out and I never thought anything of it. I was like, 'Okay, it was just unfinished CGI or something.'
"And then it wasn't until the finale that I just watched that I see that moment come to full fruition and I was like, 'What?!'" he continued. "So I need to talk to Leslye and see what are the implications of this roommate that I possibly have. I have so many questions just like you, if that's the case. I mean, it was always rumored with fans, but I am experiencing it just like a viewer."
It remains to be seen how Plagueis's introduction will affect The Acolyte moving forward – at the moment, the show has not been renewed for a season 2. One theory, though, is that Senator Rayencourt is actually Darth Tenebrous, Plagueis's Master, which could certainly shake things up.
The Acolyte is streaming on Disney Plus now. For more on the Star Wars show, check out our deep dives below:
- The Acolyte episodes 1-4 review
- The Acolyte episode 5 review
- The Acolyte episode 6 review
- The Acolyte episode 7 review
- What is the Great Hyperspace Disaster?
- What is cortosis?
- What is vergence?
- What is The High Republic? The Acolyte’s new Star Wars era explained
- When does The Acolyte take place on the Star Wars timeline?
- Who is the masked villain in The Acolyte? What we know about the Star Wars Sith explained
- New Star Wars show The Acolyte's sets were so big and detailed, the actors needed a map to get around and were literally “tripping on mushrooms”
- Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae on joining The Acolyte, making history as a Jedi, and why he thinks Russian Doll’s Leslye Headland has a "fresh take" on Star Wars
- The Acolyte creator talks pitching The High Republic – and the biggest challenge behind the new Star Wars era
- Star Wars' cute new droid has an incredibly wholesome inspiration behind it
- The Acolyte crew built lightsabers for the new Star Wars show that could be used "the way Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn use them"
- Upcoming Star Wars movies
- Star Wars timeline
- How to watch the Star Wars movies in order
