Leslye Headland
Leslye Headland
Career
Occupation
- "I am the type ofStar Wars fan that doesn't even have a favorite movie. I just want to live in the universe ofStar Wars continually, in perpetuity, forever. So when people are like, 'What's your favoriteStar Wars movie?' I'm like, 'There is noStar Wars movie; there is onlyStar Wars.'"
- ―Leslye Headland[2]
Leslye Headland is the creator and executive producer ofStar Wars: The Acolyte, a2024 mystery thriller television series set in theHigh Republic Era. A long-timeStar Wars fan, Headland combined her love forGeorge Lucas' movies, novels from both theExpanded Universe and currentcanon, andHong Kong martial arts andAkira Kurosawa samurai films in writing and producingThe Acolyte.
Biography
- "I think it just meant so much to me because it was a place to live, a place to escape to. Not just the media, but… George [Lucas] had given you enough signposts that it's almost like Narnia. You could just go [into theStar Wars galaxy] and live there. And then you just have to come out of the wardrobe at some point and go to class."
- ―Leslye Headland, interviewed byKristin Baver[3]
After co-creating the2019 television seriesRussian Doll, for which she received twoEmmy Award nominations,[1] Leslye Headland attended the premiere of the2019 filmStar Wars: Episode IXThe Rise of Skywalker. When asked by a reporter if she had plans to work on aStar Wars film, Headland responded that she had been thinking of ideas for newStar Wars movies since she was a child.[2] Her first experience ofStar Wars was watching theSpecial Edition releases of theoriginal trilogy (1997) and readingExpanded Universe novels such asTimothy Zahn'sHeir to the Empire (1991).Star Wars was a place of escape for Headland, who comparedGeorge Lucas'galaxy far, far away to the realm ofNarnia created by authorC. S. Lewis in the1950s.[3]
OnMay 4,2020, an article onStarWars.com announced that Headland was developing aStar Wars television series forDisney+ and serve as a writer, executive producer, and showrunner.[1] OnDecember 10, 2020, it was revealed that it would be a mystery thriller focusing on "emergingdark side powers" in the waning days of theHigh Republic Era.[4]Star Wars: The Acolyte's trailer premiered onMarch 19,2024, ahead of its release onJune 4 that year.[3]
Amandla Stenberg,Lee Jung-jae, and Leslye Headland
Headland was inspired bywuxia martial arts and samurai films, such asKing Hu'sHong KongShaw Brothers filmCome Drink with Me (大醉俠) (1966) and theJapaneseAkira Kurosawa filmsYojimbo (用心棒) (1961)[3] andRashomon (羅生門) (1950), particularly for the latter's use of differing interpretations of the same events. Headland's first produced television script in2010'sTerriers was directed byRian Johnson, whom Headland admired for his calmness as a director.[5]
The showrunner aimed to explore the duality of the "underdog" versus the "institution" beyond good and evil, with theJedi Order as the institution inThe Acolyte.[3] Aside from Lucas' films, the television seriesThe Clone Wars,[5] and currentcanon books such as those fromThe High Republic publishing initiative, Headland also incorporated significant elements from the old Expanded Universe, now known as theStar Wars Legends continuity, while maintaining the story as easily understood by audiences who are unfamiliar with the relevant material. The showrunner is especially keen on introducing a half-Theelin, half-humanJedi,PadawanJecki Lon, and showing a much olderVernestra Rwoh, a Jedi who was introduced inThe High Republic books as a teenager.[3]
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Works
Filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Lost / Found" | Director, writer, executive producer | TV episode[6] |
| 2024 | Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Revenge / Justice" | Director, executive producer | TV episode[7] |
| 2024 | Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Destiny" | Executive producer | TV episode[8] |
| 2024 | Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Day" | Executive producer | TV episode[9] |
| 2024 | Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Night" | Executive producer | TV episode[10] |
| 2024 | Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Teach / Corrupt" | Writer, executive producer | TV episode[11] |
| 2024 | Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Choice" | Executive producer | TV episode[12] |
| 2024 | Star Wars: The Acolyte — "The Acolyte" | Executive producer | TV episode[13] |
Sources
Notes and references
- ↑1.01.11.2
Academy Award Winner Taika Waititi to Direct and Co-Write newStar Wars Feature Film For Theatrical Release; Oscar Nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns to Co-Write Screenplay with Waititi onStarWars.com(backup link) - ↑2.02.1
'Star Wars' Series From 'Russian Doll' Co-Creator Leslye Headland in the Works at Disney Plus (EXCLUSIVE) by Otterson, Joe onVariety (April 22,2020) (backup link archived onMay 4,2020) - ↑3.03.13.23.33.43.5 "Whatever You ThinkThe Acolyte Is, It's Not":Star Wars Series Creator Leslye Headland Revels in the First Teaser Trailer onStarWars.com(backup link)
- ↑
Future Lucasfilm Projects Revealed onStarWars.com(backup link) - ↑5.05.1 'Star Wars: The Acolyte' Creator Leslye Headland Talks the Unique Perspective of Her Upcoming Series by Brian Davids onThe Hollywood Reporter (March 19,2024) (backup link archived onMarch 22,2024)
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Lost / Found"
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Revenge / Justice"
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Destiny"
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Day"
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Night"
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Teach / Corrupt"
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Choice"
- ↑Star Wars: The Acolyte — "The Acolyte"
