Summary
Manny Jacinto, the actor behind the Stranger’s cortosis mask inThe Acolyte, recently revealed how the idea for his unique lightsaber came about. The Stranger introduced himself in epic fashion when he massacred seven Jedi inThe Acolyteepisode 5, and one of the most iconic parts of his character design was hisnew Sith lightsaberthat could be separated into two smaller blades. That trick lightsaber, combined withthe Stranger’s cortosis helmetand his uniquelightsaber combat form, made the Stranger very deceptive and exceptionally deadly. While the Stranger’s lightsaber was cool by itself, the inspiration behind it adds yet another layer toThe Acolyte’s Sith Lord.
While speaking toGQ, Jacinto explained that he worked withThe Acolyte’s showrunner, Leslye Headland, to come up with a lightsaber that was both cool and paid homage to his cultural roots.
And if a Jedi or Sith is only as cool as their lightsaber, the Stranger’s pair of blades — one long, one short and dagger-like — also deserve mention. “I’m so proud of how those turned out, because it was very much a collaborative effort,” Jacinto says. “Leslye and I had the same idea of having a sneaky weapon to come out, because this guy plays dirty. And then it just so happens that having two blades is very much an ode to Filipino martial arts. It was a lot of work [to master], but I think it definitely paid off as a shout-out to my culture.”
Jacinto was born in Manila, Philippines, before moving to Canada as a child, and the lightsaber he used inThe Acolyteserves as a nice homage to his place of birth. As Jacinto mentioned, some forms of Filipino martial arts, such as the Sinawali technique in Eskrima, focus on a fighter using two weapons at the same time for both blocking and attacking. The Stranger’s own fighting style is a clear homage to Eskrima, and Jacinto’s past. That Filipino influence wasn’t just an homage to Jacinto’s culture, though, it also worked perfectly for the Stranger as a character.
Star Wars' New Lightsaber Weakness Explained: What Is Cortosis Ore?
The mysterious Sith of The Acolyte wears a helmet made of the rare metal cortosis, which has a fascinating history in both Star Wars timelines.
The New Lightsaber Is The Perfect Weapon For A Sith
As Jacinto mentioned in the interview, both he and Leslye Headland wanted to give the Stranger a lightsaber that helped show he was willing to fight dirty, and they achieved that goal perfectly:The moment the Stranger separated his blades and used them to kill Jecki Lon, he cemented himself as one of the most ruthless Sith Lords inStar Wars. His lightsaber embodies the core values of the Sith: power and victory at any cost. The Stranger hid his greatest weapon until the perfect moment to strike, like so many other Sith Lords have, he just did it in battle instead of on the Senate floor.
Jecki Lon
Jecki is the Padawan apprentice to Master Sol. Although she is young, she projects calm and conducts herself with maturity.
In addition to how it demonstrated the Stranger’s willingness to win at any cost, his lightsaber also serves as a symbol for the character as a whole.The Stranger hid himself in plain sight and used his false identity as the goofy, incompetent Qimir to hide the danger he really posed as a Sith Lord. In much the same way, his lightsaber seemed ordinary at first, but once he twisted off his second blade, the proverbial mask fell, and the true power of the Stranger was on full display. The Stranger’s lightsaber was filled with symbolic significance, and it couldn’t have been a better fit.
The Stranger and his lightsaber were a great imagining of the Sith, but it’s still not clear if he’s actually a Sith Lord or not. He doesn’t seem to fit into the Sith Rule of Two, and afterDarth Plagueis' cameo inThe Acolyteepisode 8, it seems the Stranger could actually be at odds with the Sith. It’s not clear who exactly the Stranger is just yet, but ifThe Acolyteseason 2 happens, that question could be answered. If for no other reason,The Acolyteseason 2 deserves to happen just to see Manny Jacinto as the Stranger, and his unique lightsaber, again.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
