Manny Jacinto's Big Secret in The Acolyte
Manny Jacinto's character in The Acolyte has been a mystery since the show premiered. Initially appearing as Qimir, a seemingly ordinary drifter who helps Mae (Amandla Stenberg), Jacinto's true identity is far more sinister. Jacinto has kept this incredible twist hidden for years.
Star Wars' official X profile posted a video of Jacinto jokingly referencing his character's duplicity. In the video, Jacinto pretends to be passing the phone to someone "untrustworthy" before a clip of the mysterious masked dark side user appears, confirming the secret that Jacinto had kept for so long.
A Familiar Theme in Star Wars
The idea of a mysterious masked villain is a classic element of the Star Wars franchise. Darth Vader, first appearing in A New Hope, set the trend that Kylo Ren continued in the sequel trilogy. In an interview predating the show's premiere, Jacinto mentioned connecting with Hayden Christensen and being inspired by his performance in the prequel trilogy.
While Qimir's role in the show was unknown at the time, Jacinto mentioned taking on a mantle similar to Christensen's. Amandla Stenberg even appears to notice Jacinto's reference to Darth Vader when he discusses his possible similarity to the iconic character.
A Close Call
Jacinto's comment about Christensen nearly gave away one of The Acolyte's biggest twists. In the interview, Jacinto covered the connection by saying he was a Canadian in the Star Wars universe, a playful way to avoid revealing the truth about Qimir's true identity.
However, knowing what we know now about Qimir's true nature, it's clear that Jacinto's comment was a subtle hint to the character's future. Amandla Stenberg's reaction to Jacinto's comments was just barely noticeable, but she seemed to be aware of the connection between Jacinto and Christensen.
The Acolyte's Masked Villain
The Acolyte's masked villain echoes iconic Star Wars characters like Darth Vader and Kylo Ren. This masked villain adds an element of intrigue and mystery to the series, leaving the audience wondering about their true identity and motivations.
The mask serves as a symbol of power and intimidation, creating an aura of fear and suspense surrounding the character. This tactic, successfully employed by Darth Vader and Kylo Ren, is a recurring motif in the Star Wars universe.
