Summary
The Acolytedebuted a lightsaber whip in live-actionStar Wars, and the team responsible for crafting it have finally revealed their secrets. Thelightsaber whip inStar Wars’The Acolytewas incredibly cool to see in live-action, belonging to Vernestra Rwoh.The Acolyte’s Vernestra Rwohis a character from the High Republic books set a century before theStar WarsTV show, with her unique weapon tying into her past. Her lightsaber can change form, becoming a lengthy whip, which forcedThe Acolyte’s creators to come up with the VFX behind the new variant of the iconic Jedi weapon.
As outlined onVFXVoice.com, the chief workers forThe Acolyte’s VFX team outline the process behind creating the lightsaber whip. One such creator was ILM’s Julian Foddy, who stated that he and his team went back on forth on how to create the whip. Initially, Foddy and Co. argued between making the whip several small sections or a long, continuous beam of light. Also, the lightsaber whip did not have a practical element like other lightsabers inThe Acolyte. Concerning bringing the weapon to life, this is what Foddy had to say:
“The lightwhip was something that Leslye desperately wanted to get into the show. I tasked the ILM art department with coming up with various concepts for how the lightwhip might work and engaged in lengthy discussions with Pablo Hidalgo to ensure we got this right. Not only did we want to respect fans of The High Republic novels but also discuss the technology of a lightsaber… "
“Ultimately, we came down to the simplicity of the single strand. It’s down to the nonchalance of how Vernestra Rwoh uses the whip as well… It is a normal lightsaber and has been modified to turn into a whip. There is an instance when Vernestra deploys or retracts the whip, and it snaps into a straight blade before returning into the hilt.”
The Lightsaber Whip Is A Tremendous Addition To Lightsaber Lore
Star Wars' Iconic Weapon Continues To Be Revolutionary
As evident, the dedication to making the lightsaber whip work paid off. The lightsaber whip is a great way to switch up the status quo ofStar Warswhile also staying true to the franchise’s roots. Not only does it make the weapons infinitely more interesting, but it simply makes wielders like Vernestra Rwoh even cooler too. This factored into the creation of the lightsaber whip inThe Acolyte, with Foddy stating"Leslye [Headland] was keen to make sure we see that the lightwhip is not only the badass weapon, but that Vernestra looks like a total badass when she uses it.”
Moreover, the lightsaber whip factors intoStar Warslore as opposed to simply being a neat visual gimmick for fan service. InStar Wars’High Republic Era, Vernestra was initially reluctant to show her modified weapon to her masters. Vernestra thought that the whip would be deemed a weapon too close to the dark side, which further develops her character. Thankfully, the work put in by the VFX team forThe Acolyteworked, as the lightsaber whip solidified its place as a fantastic addition toStar Warscanon and the world of laser swords.
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.
