The Acolyte 1×02: Who is Kelnacca, the Wookie Jedi from Star Wars?

“The Acolyte,” the new Star Wars series, has premiered its first two episodes on Disney+, introducing viewers to a story far from the Skywalker saga. Among the characters generating significant excitement is Kelnacca, the Wookiee Jedi.

Spoilers 

Wookiees are a well-known alien species in the Star Wars universe, created by George Lucas. The most famous Wookiee is probably Chewbacca, Han Solo’s loyal companion. However, “The Acolyte” introduces a new Wookiee character, Kelnacca, who appears at the end of the second episode. Kelnacca is one of the four Jedi that Mae targets for assassination, marking a significant milestone as the first live-action Wookiee Jedi.

In the promotional materials for the Disney+ series, Kelnacca is described as a Jedi Master who has “secluded himself in the thick jungle of Khofar, where he lives a solitary life.” This description contrasts with the typical portrayal of Wookiees as a species known for their strong social bonds.

While the concept of a Jedi hermit is not new in the Star Wars canon, Kelnacca’s isolation adds an intriguing layer of mystery. Fans are left wondering what events led him to choose such a solitary existence, diverging from the Wookiees’ usual close-knit nature.

Joonas Suotamo, who succeeded Peter Mayhew after his death in April 2019 to play Chewbacca in the latest Star Wars films, now portrays Kelnacca in “The Acolyte.” In a 2023 interview with the Dagobah Dispatch podcast, Suotamo highlighted that, despite both characters being Wookiees, they are distinct from each other. “Being a Jedi, there is something more. And that was the challenge,” he explained.

Kelnacca is not the only Wookiee Jedi in the expansive Star Wars universe. Other notable Wookiee Jedi include Gungi, a young Padawan trained by the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars, and Burryaga, who Jedi Master Nib Assek mentored. Fans belove both characters.

In addition to Suotamo, “The Acolyte” features Amanda Stenberg as the assassin Mae, Charlie Barnett as Jedi Temple guardian Yord, Lee Jung-jae as Master Sun, Carrie-Anne Moss as Master Indara, Rebecca Henderson as Master Vernestra ‘Vern’ Rwoh, Jodie Turner-Smith as Mother Aniseya, Dafne Keen as Padawan Jecki, and Manny Jacinto as Quimir.

Created by Lesley Headland, “The Acolyte” is set 100 years before “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.” This era, previously unexplored by fans, corresponds to the High Republic, a period of political splendor and the peak of the Jedi Order.