'Asia's First' Casting Met with Racist Remarks... "Not a Fan," Star Wars Director's Sharp Reproach

Some Fans Displeased with 'Acolyte' Casting of People of Color
Director Headland: "We Will Reject Racism and Prejudice"

When racist comments arose regarding the casting of actors of color such as Lee Jung-jae in the ‘Star Wars’ series ‘The Acolyte,’ director Leslye Headland firmly responded by saying, “They are not Star Wars fans.”

‘The Acolyte’ features a diverse cast including Lee Jung-jae as the Master Jedi, Amandla Stenberg (of African descent) as a warrior opposing him, Manny Jacinto (of Filipino descent) as a shadow merchant, and Jodie Turner-Smith (of African descent) as the leader of a coven of witches.

Director Leslie Headland, who is coaching actors in acting in 'Acolyte'
[Image source=Walt Disney Company Korea]

There was particular dissatisfaction about Lee Jung-jae playing the key role of Master Jedi in the Star Wars series. A comment on the trailer of The Acolyte released last March stating “Disney is killing the Jedi” received over 30,000 likes. This is the first time an Asian actor has been cast as a Jedi.

In response, Headland, who planned, directed, and produced ‘The Acolyte,’ said in an interview with the US daily The New York Times (NYT) on the 29th of last month (local time), “I do not consider those who express prejudice, racism, or hateful remarks to be Star Wars fans.”

He added, “I empathize with Star Wars fans and firmly support them, but one thing is clear: I will reject opinions that reveal racism or prejudice.”

Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm under Disney, which produces Star Wars, also dismissed claims from some quarters that “Disney is ruining Star Wars by obsessing over political correctness (PC).” In the NYT interview, she said, “I believe storytelling needs to represent everyone,” and “Supporting director Headland was not difficult.”

Lee Jung-jae, who played the role of a Jedi in 'Acolyte'
[Image source=Walt Disney Company Korea]

She also pointed out that since the Star Wars fanbase is mainly male, women involved in the series are often attacked in very personal ways, mentioning that Headland is a woman.

Among all the Star Wars series to date, Headland is the first woman to oversee production. She began as a playwright, demonstrated her talent by directing independent films, and gained recognition by producing and successfully launching the Netflix series ‘Russian Doll.’

Meanwhile, the NYT reported that the production of ‘The Acolyte’ took about four years and approximately $180 million (about 247.2 billion KRW) was invested in producing eight episodes. ‘The Acolyte’ will be released on Disney’s streaming platform Disney+ on the 5th of next month, Korean time.