Carrie-Anne Moss has addressed fan criticism surrounding her character's early demise in Disney+'s Star Wars series The Acolyte, admitting she didn't anticipate the strong reaction.
The premiere episode, "Lost/Found," immediately thrusts viewers into action as a shadowy assassin (Amandla Stenberg) — later revealed as Osha's twin Mae — confronts Moss' Jedi Master Indara in a cantina. After provoking Indara to fight at full strength, Mae engages her in a duel that concludes with the Jedi's shocking death—a creative decision some fans felt wasted Moss' star power prematurely.
Showrunner Leslye Headland defended the narrative choice, explaining that killing a respected Jedi was necessary to establish the series' high-stakes tone and the real dangers facing the Order.
"As a filmmaker, I believed we needed an impactful cold open to set the stage," Headland told GamesRadar. "The audience had to understand that even Jedi suffer losses, that moral lines would blur, and that every confrontation would carry brutal consequences."
"This wasn't about shock value," she continued. "Carrie-Anne brought extraordinary depth—she conveyed every emotional nuance during the fight sequences and her character's final moments."
The episode's release sparked immediate backlash online. Many viewers expressed disappointment over Moss' limited screen time, while others criticized the marketing campaign for prominently featuring her character despite the early exit.
Why y'all make Carrie-Anne Moss get out of bed if you're just gonna waste her like that #theacolyte pic.twitter.com/d58TJbacI1
— Boka MAX (Formerly "Boka") (@BokaLaBoca) June 5, 2024
In a recent Business Insider interview, Moss revealed she knew about Indara's fate when accepting the role but misjudged fan expectations. "Seeing the reaction, I realized I should've anticipated this," she admitted. "As an actor, I focus on serving the story—it genuinely didn't occur to me how significant this might feel to audiences."
While flashbacks feature Indara in later episodes, many fans considered the damage irreversible. Disney ultimately canceled The Acolyte after its first season, abandoning multiple unresolved plotlines—including the much-discussed live-action debut of Darth Plagueis.
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Several cast members have since expressed hope for a revival. Manny Jacinto (Qimir) hinted at expanded roles for both his character and Darth Plagueis in potential future seasons, cautiously noting "the story could continue."
Lee Jung-Jae (Sol) admitted surprise at the cancellation, while Stenberg acknowledged the show faced toxicity from its announcement. "The online vitriol wasn't unexpected," she said frankly. "We encountered hate before anyone even saw a frame."
Jodie Turner-Smith (Mother Aniseya) criticized Disney's silence regarding the cast's experience with racist harassment. "Studios can't stay quiet while actors endure online abuse," she asserted. Despite this, Jacinto remains passionate about continuing The Acolyte's story, calling a potential Season 2 his creative priority.
IGN awarded The Acolyte a 6/10 in our review: "While introducing an intriguing new Star Wars era, The Acolyte suffers from clunky dialogue and constrained storytelling. The prequel-era Jedi deliver electrifying action sequences, but the series often lacks the franchise's characteristic grandeur."
