Amandla Stenberg is joining one of the most beloved franchises of all time. The “Hunger Games” grad will lead “Star Wars: The Acolyte.” “Honored is an understatement,” the “Hate U Give” star gushed in an Instagram post.
“Russian Doll” co-creator Leslye Headland is serving as showrunner on the Disney+ series as well as writing and exec producing. The mystery-thriller will “take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era,” per the streamer. Deadline notes, “In the real universe of ‘Star Wars,’ an acolyte can refer to individuals with force abilities who learn from a more experienced Sith Lord.”
No word on who Stenberg is playing in “The Acolyte,” which is slated to begin production this year.
Recently seen in “Dear Evan Hansen,” Stenberg’s credits include “The Eddy” and “Everything Everything.” They star in Halina Reijn’s “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” set to hit theaters August 5. The horror-comedy depicts a hurricane party that turns deadly. Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) plays Stenberg’s girlfriend in the pic.
“Sleeping with Other People” and “Bachelorette” are among Headland’s film credits.
