‘Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae Lands Male Lead In ‘Star Wars’ Series ‘The Acolyte’ From Leslye Headland And Lucasfilm
08.09.2022 - 19:09
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: The eve of his potential historic night at the Emmys, Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae looks to have found his first major studio role following that breakout in a property more popular then the Netflix global phenomenon.
Sources tell Deadline that Lee has landed the male lead in the new Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte from Lucasfilm. Amandla Steinberg is set for the other lead role, with Deadline also recently breaking the news that Jodie Turner-Smith also is joining cast. Leslye Headland tapped as the series director, writer, exec producer and showrunner. Headland has been very hands-on with Lucasfilm execs including President Kathleen Kennedy in putting together a diverse, A-list ensemble, and with Steinberg, Turner-Smith and now Lee, it looks to be headed in that direction.
Lucasfilm could not be reached for comment on the casting.
Emmy Presenters: Ariana DeBose, ‘Squid Game’ Stars, Jean Smart, Jimmy Kimmel, Selena Gomez & More
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, Disney+ said in announcing the project in December 2020. In the real universe of Star Wars, “acolyte” can refer to individuals with Force abilities who learn from a more experienced Sith Lord.
Details behind who Lee will be playing under being kept under wraps.
Even with how high-anticipated this new series, landing Lee for the series is quite the victory for Lucasfilm and Headland seeing how every studio and streamer was looking to get into business with Squid Game breakout star. It’s been a year is the series premiered, smashing streaming records and turning Lee and his cast mates into household names.
Not only has the