Next week, the Star Wars universe will welcome its first Asian Jedi. South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae has been cast as the principal Jedi Master “Sol” in the Disney+ series “The Acolyte,” which will launch on June. 5. While domestic fans are excited about the series, overseas opinions have been mixed, with some detractors arguing that “Disney’s stance on political correctness is ruining Star Wars.” This pushback originates from the fact that most of the latest series’ main characters, including Sol, are non-white and female, which some fans say undermines the franchise’s original essence.
“The Acolyte” takes place a hundred years before Episode I, making it the earliest story in the Star Wars timeline. Since acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, Disney has overseen the American epic space opera media franchise. Lee Jung-jae’s character, a Jedi Master, occupies a high rank among the galaxy’s peacekeeping knights, a position formerly held by renowned heroes such as Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Because of Sol’s prominent role in the series, Korean fans have created Star Wars-themed memes that parody iconic lines from Lee’s previous films - “Do I have the physiognomy of a king?” (The Face Reader) and “You said I sold out three Padawans! I personally recruited those guys.” (Assassination)
In contrast, bad memes have been propagated internationally. The English trailer on Star Wars’ YouTube channel received the most views for a Star Wars-related show in a single day, but it also received a slew of negative comments. Critics mocked Disney by parodying Star Wars lines, emphasizing a desire for white, heterosexual male leads, and expressing unhappiness with the company’s perceived disrespect for public feedback. Although the “dislike” count is now concealed, it apparently outnumbered “likes” by a large margin.
The criticism is mostly directed at Disney’s pursuit of political correctness. This isn’t the first time Disney has faced criticism for diverse casting choices, as seen by its live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” is played by a Black actress; the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” has been recast as a different race and gender; and “Snow White” will be played by a Latina actress. This movement has sparked a significant backlash from fans. They claim that there is no need for Jedi to be white men as “The Acolyte” is a creative work, but Disney’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion is changing cherished characters and stories.
The heroine of “The Acolyte” is a multiracial Black lady played by Amandla Stenberg, with other key roles supplied by actors from various origins, including Filipino-Canadian Manny Jacinto and Black British actress Jodie Turner-Smith. There are a few white actresses, like Carrie-Anne Moss, the star of “The Matrix Resurrections.” This has caused the attitude to be, “Will we ever see a white male lead in Disney movies again?” White male actors in Episodes 1 through six filled all the main Jedi parts in the Star Wars movies. However, the subsequent trilogy—Episodes 7 through 9—had a female Jedi as the main protagonist following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. This change has added to the criticism and continuous discussion about Disney’s most recent works’ portrayal.
Director Leslye Headland’s controversial remarks, such as her statement that “The idea that George Lucas, the original creator, alone holds the keys to Star Wars is wrong,” and her previous work as an assistant to Harvey Weinstein, the producer central to the “Me Too” movement, have fueled the backlash against her and the new series.
Director Leslye Headland has also received criticism for comments she made in interviews, implying that George Lucas is not the exclusive authority on Star Wars, and her previous affiliation with Harvey Weinstein has not helped her standing among fans. While some Western fans are chastised for being narrow-minded, it is worth noting that Korean viewers have also shown hostility toward diversity casting, as evidenced by the reception of Black Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.” There are concerns that Lee Jung-jae’s casting, considering his global reputation from “Squid Game,” would be eclipsed by these conflicts. Director Headland said Lee was a natural choice for Sol’s role after seeing his variety of emotions in “Squid Game.”
Some argue that Western fandom displays intolerance. However, it’s important to note that Korean audiences are not immune to criticism. For instance, South Korean audiences backlashed to the casting of a Black actress when “The Little Mermaid” was released last year. Concerns have been raised that the controversy over political correctness might overshadow the significance of casting Lee Jung-jae, who gained global fame for his role in “Squid Game.” Director Leslye Headland, who cast Lee as Sol, stated, “As soon as I saw Lee Jung-jae, who showed a variety of emotions in “Squid Game,” I knew he was perfect for Sol.”
