So much for the Power of Many.

As reported earlier this week, Disney has cancelled Star Wars: The Acolyte as it will not be given a second season to flesh out its plotlines and characters further. The cancellation was due to the show’s really low ratings at the tail end of the season despite the strong start it received on 4th June when it debuted; specifically at about 4.8 million views.

This has both angered a good number of audiences who wanted to see a different take on Star Wars, as well as appeased the core fanbase who stuck around and stood loyal to the Star Wars canon and lore since the days of Lucasfilms and LucasArts. To add possible salt to the wound, a number of X posts have confirmed that Disney has removed Star Wars: The Acolyte merchandise from its online stores. Fans are already assuming the worst: that the show would be deleted from streaming service Disney+ alongside the Willow TV series.

The merchandise for ‘THE ACOLYTE’ is seemingly being removed Disney Stores.

Fans are speculating that the show will also be removed from Disney+, similar to what happened to the ‘WILLOW’ show. pic.twitter.com/EIGIQuVpr3

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) August 21, 2024

This may be an alleged tactic to avoid paying residuals to those who would profit off of Star Wars: The Acolyte post-launch. The fact that the entire season cost US180 million to make (reportedly), and its less-than-stellar returns and viewership to justify that amount, and it seems that Disney is attempting to cut their losses one way or another.

If the show used half (or less) of that budget, had some sort of Star Wars icon or connection attached for a safer bet at the start (Yoda and Darth Plagueis were saved at the end of the Season), and focused on better writing, then maybe its fate wouldn’t be sealed this prematurely. As it stands, what’s done is done; the Ewoks movies and the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) will at least have some new tenants to live with.

Star Wars: The Acolyte is available to watch right now on Disney+. For now. Check out our review of the earlier episodes for more info of what you’re getting into.