Manny Jacinto makes it clear that he’s playing neither a good nor a bad guy in the upcoming Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte. Instead, his character, Qimir is described by the Star Wars Data Bank as a “former smuggler living life as a trader, procuring unusual things and enjoying a life of leisure.”
In The Acolyte, Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-Jae) investigates a series of murders of Jedis, leading him to a dangerous Force-wielding warrior, Mae (Amandla Stenberg), who has a past connection with Sol. Qimir seemingly has a partnership with Mae, but that doesn’t mean he’s one with ‘The Force’ or part of the Jedi Order. Jacinto best describes Qimir as a “survivor.”
“I think what makes Qimir so interesting is that he’s not tied to the dark [and] he’s not tied to the light,” Jacinto tells The Nerds of Color. “For him, it’s whatever allows him to survive and to exist.”
According to Jacinto, Qimir has a laid-back, nonchalant, flowy personality. While one can expect comedic moments from the smuggler, don’t underestimate the seemingly unsuspecting character.
“He can go this way or that way depending on his mood or attitude,” he explains. “It’s very much going back and forth — whatever he needs to do to survive. Perhaps we’ll find out his allegiance towards the end — or maybe he creates his own path.”
Showrunner Leslye Headland, who knew Jacinto would be perfect for the series, gave him a brief overview of Qimir’s journey in the series. He worked closely with her on creating the character’s backstory and his purpose.
“How would you figure out his dynamic within the world of Star Wars and amongst all these different characters? She left it up to me to figure out and brainstorm with her. It was very much a collaborative experience that became very personal. You hold onto these characters a lot more carefully.”
Although Jacinto was a casual fan of the franchise growing up, he is honored to be part of the canon that people grew up loving. With The Acolyte being set 100 years before The Phantom Menace and near the end of The High Republic books, Jacinto is excited for audiences to see the newly-created worlds that lay the foundation for the known stories.
“It’s nice to be able to do that,” he says. “It’s a huge responsibility, but I try not to focus on that.”
Find out more with the two-episode premiere of The Acolyte on June 4 on Disney+.