Michael Abels (Get Out, Us, Nope, The Burial, Landscape with Invisible Hand, See You Yesterday, Breaking) has been tapped to score Lucasfilm’s upcoming Disney+ original series The Acolyte. The show is created by Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) and stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Charlie Barnett and Carrie-Anne Moss. The drama is set in the final days of the High Republic era and tells the story of a former Padawan who reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated. Headland is also executive producing the project with Kathleen Kennedy (Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial), Simon Emanuel (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Jeff F. King (The Umbrella Academy, Blindspot) and Jason Micallef (Heathers, Butter). The Acolyte will premiere this year on Disney+.
Yes, original and intriguing composer casting, although the only Abels score I've really liked is BAD EDUCATION (not that keen on the Jordan Peele stuff, neither films nor scores).
I don't know how you couldn't be keen on Peele's Nope. That was one of the most thrilling and exhilarating adventure films I've seen in years. I saw that one three times in the cinemas. It was such a pleasing picture, with great characters, evocative images, and precise filmmaking. I really liked Peele's Get Out, what a debut! But Nope was a whole other level.
I don't know how you couldn't be keen on Peele's Nope. That was one of the most thrilling and exhilarating adventure films I've seen in years. I saw that one three times in the cinemas. It was such a pleasing picture, with great characters, evocative images, and precise filmmaking. I really liked Peele's Get Out, what a debut! But Nope was a whole other level.
I was all set to like that one, but alas I was bummed by the prevalent apathy. That's always a major hurdle for me (apathy in characters or mise-en-scene). Has some striking scenes and visualizations, for sure, but was too self-aware and pretentious at times, I felt. I think Peele is not for me, much like I also have issues with Robert Eggers and Ari Aster. I can appreciate their talent, but somehow their films don't connect with me. Whereas someone like Alex Garland, I really, really like. Go figure.
I was cold on NOPE too, although I absolutely LOVE the score. I really liked Peele's first effort (GET OUT) but have had problems with his two follow up movies (US & NOPE). Like M Night S, he's a great visualist who can compose some VERY striking scenes and sequences, but his writing and characters let things down for me (his preposterous tendencies could do with honing-in/editing). And like MNS, having a great composer write great scores for his films can some times help them get away with murder (relatively speaking).
On topic, Abels is a GREAT choice to write something for STAR WARS (even if I have largely given up on the franchise). Really looking forward to hearing what he comes up with.
THE VISIT was great, but OLD and that second SPLIT/GLASS film was a right dog. KNOCK AT THE CABIN had some good moments, I suppose. But SIXTH SENSE and THE VILLAGE still shine above everything else for me (and the less said about crud like THE HAPPENING, AFTER EARTH and such like the better).
GLASS had a few issues, but wasn't bad. The others you mention are GREAT. KNOCK AT THE CABIN was my second-favourite movie last year, only beaten by THE FABELMANS. Great is also the slow burn TV series SERVANT. He really benefitted from taking a break from big studio movies and doing indie fare instead. Top form!
In The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems….
The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
The Acolyte comes from creator and showrunner Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), who also serves as executive producer alongside Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King, and Jason Micallef. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are the co-executive producers; Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Rob Bredow, and Eileen Shim are producing.
This reminds me of that utterly misguided 2001 film, The Musketeer, where they brought in some kung-fu master to lead the stunt choreography. Actually, come to think of it, I think it was the Matrix choreographer (correct me if I'm wrong) and used that as their only marketing strategy. No amount of cool kung fu sh*t can fix a film with a poor screenplay. This new Star Wars venture looks yawn-riffic.
This reminds me of that utterly misguided 2001 film, The Musketeer, where they brought in some kung-fu master to lead the stunt choreography. Actually, come to think of it, I think it was the Matrix choreographer (correct me if I'm wrong) and used that as their only marketing strategy. No amount of cool kung fu sh*t can fix a film with a poor screenplay. This new Star Wars venture looks yawn-riffic.
I'm as jaded as the next lapsed Star Wars fan but George Lucas himself loaded the prequels with some of the most absurd and often poorly choreographed wirework and martial arts. The man himself set the precedent.
I think making Star Wars depend on martial arts light sabre duels reveals a lack of understanding what Star Wars was about. Instead it turns it into any other fantasy action content.
And the line „This isn’t about good or bad, this is about power and who gets it“ makes no sense. Deciding who gets power is about good or bad.
I think making Star Wars depend on martial arts light sabre duels reveals a lack of understanding what Star Wars was about. Instead it turns it into any other fantasy action content.
The best person to take this gripe up with is George Lucas, who established this kind of stuff in his prequel trilogy. Unless your argument is stating that even Lucas himself had a lack of understanding of what SW was about (which I agree with, strongly).
