Cast and creators of “The Acolyte” talk about new “Star Wars” series set 100 years before the Skywalker saga

LOS ANGELES — “Star Wars” returns to the streaming world with the new Disney+ series “Star Wars: The Acolyte.”

While there are plenty of lightsabers, it also sheds light on a different kind of Star Wars story. This one starts as a crime thriller where not everything is as it seems.

The title role is played by Amandla Stenberg.

“I play twins who were separated by tragedy at a young age, and Osha, the twin sister we first get to know most intimately, was once a Jedi, but she left that life behind and it turns out that her sister, who she thought was dead, was actually alive. And not only is she alive, she's murdering Jedi,” Stenberg said.

Lee Jung-jae plays her Jedi trainer.

“For an actor, it is of course a huge honor to be part of the 'Star Wars' universe,” he said.

Leslye Headland, the creator of the series, takes us to a time before Anakin and Obi-Wan and examines the events that led to the downfall of the Jedi.

“I would say it's a prequel to the prequels. When I saw 'The Phantom Menace' when it came out, I thought, what a fascinating premise,” Headland said. “I wonder what happened? I wonder how the cracks in the system got to where they were at the beginning of the movie.”

When it comes to the mystery, even the title of the show gives a clue.

“It's a position. It's a description of a person. I hope that people who see it question it as the narrative progresses,” Headland said. “Of all these people we're watching, who is the acolyte?”

“Star Wars: The Acolyte” will stream on Disney+ starting June 4 with a two-episode premiere.

Disney is the parent company of Lucasfilm and this channel.