Prepare yourselves, folks, because hyperspace just got a serious upgrade. We’re talking tentacle monsters and cash-crunched dads stepping into a galaxy far, far away. Lee Jung-jae — yes, the supreme survivalist from “Squid Game”—wields a lightsaber in Star Wars: The Acolyte, and if you’re not excited, you might want to check if you have a pulse.
From Dalgona Candy to Kyber Crystals
Here’s the thing: Lee didn’t just win money and torment VIPs in a green tracksuit. He won the world’s heart and — no big deal — made history. After Netflix’s “Squid Game” smashed records in 2021, all eyes turned to Lee. And then came 2022. Emmy night. Lee Jung-jae became the first Asian actor to nab Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Can you hear that? It’s the sound of doors blasting open across Hollywood.
But success in survival dystopias wasn’t enough for Lee. Instead, he set his sights on a galaxy full of Jedi, Sith, and mysterious conspiracies.
Jedi Master Sol: The New Star Wars Powerhouse
Now let’s get serious. The Star Wars universe just gained one heck of a Jedi. Lee Jung-jae steps into “The Acolyte” as Master Sol — a figure who’s more than a mentor. He’s a guide into the looming shadows inside the Jedi Order itself. According to every ounce of press in 2025, Lee is the main Jedi of this series and mentors Amandla Stenberg’s enigmatic character. Talk about iconic duos.
Here’s what we know:
- Lee’s Master Sol investigates a bizarre string of Jedi murders.
- “The Acolyte” takes place about 100 years before The Phantom Menace. Raise your hand if you’re a High Republic geek. This is your moment.
- And yes, Lee did all his lines in English, which wasn’t a small ask! He went all in with not one, but two dialect coaches, training for four months before rolling cameras. (koreajoongangdaily.joins.com)
Why Lee’s Casting Resonates Across the Universe
This isn’t just another celebrity cameo. Frankly, Lee’s casting in Star Wars is a watershed moment. While plenty of folks with roots in Asia have worked across the saga — think Donnie Yen in Rogue One or Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico — Lee stands as the first Asian actor to play a lead Jedi Master. He’s conscious of the gravitas, actively mentioning in interviews that Star Wars has always woven in Asian influences, from the flowing costumes down to the martial arts. Still, having a Korean Jedi Master at the core? That’s a fresh kind of representation.
He admitted in an interview with GamesRadar, “I believe I’m the first Asian actor to play a Jedi Master,” and added that the style of the universe always nodded to Asian traditions, so it just makes sense. The global online fan community, especially Korean fans, exploded with pride. Hashtags trended in both languages every time a new “Acolyte” poster dropped.
A Word on Lee’s Global Power Level
Let’s be honest: Korean content is not a niche thing anymore. And Lee? He’s mainstream. Besides the Squid Game stop-the-world moment, Lee’s CV stretches all the way back to iconic Korean films like “The Housemaid” and “New World.” But “Squid Game” was different. It shattered language barriers and dominated Netflix’s charts for months — it’s still the most-watched series on the platform even in late 2025. Hollywood came knocking, and Lee answered not as a sidekick, but as a leader.
People have described him as having “gravity.” He exudes cool, but with just enough humor and chaos to keep you on your toes. So, when Kathleen Kennedy and Leslye Headland cast him, they snatched up not only an acting powerhouse but also a face beloved across at least three continents.
Squid Games and Star Wars: More Alike Than You Think
You’re probably squinting now, thinking, “Wait, they put the Squid Game guy in Star Wars?” But think about it. Both “Squid Game” and “The Acolyte” force their characters to face impossible choices. In the games, Gi-hun stares at morality versus survival. Now, Jedi Master Sol will delve into the Jedi Order’s own moral cracks. Who can you trust when you’re surrounded by secrets and betrayal?
Some Korean press even called “The Acolyte” the Squid Game of the Jedi. Lee’s knack for tension, mixed motives, and dead-serious stakes makes him perfect for the shows that challenge every character, from the high council to the lowliest contestant. No one understands silent suffering and the explosion of emotion quite like Lee.
The Stunt Work, The Sweat, The Fame
Here’s a fun fact: Lee Jung-jae is no stranger to action. For “The Acolyte,” he trained in lightsaber combat, which isn’t wildly different from his experience in action-heavy Korean dramas and films. Still, he told Korean JoongAng Daily that he wanted to get it perfect, so he went into Jedi mode for months, training off-camera with Hollywood’s best. Lightsaber choreography? Not just for show anymore.
But acting in English? That was the true space adventure. Lee described bumping into a wall of nerves, but the result feels seamless. Fans and critics from Seoul to San Francisco agree: he nails Jedi gravitas with the right splash of vulnerability.
Fan-Buzz and International Hype
No surprise, the casting news set social media on fire. Star Wars fans, K-drama obsessives, and crossover stans had a meltdown when those first set photos landed. In Korea, entertainment sites like Soompi and Naver ran headlines for days. Even the notoriously hard-to-please Reddit crowd voted him as a top “most anticipated performance” for The Acolyte.
Korean-American viewers especially noted what Lee’s role meant to them. One Twitter thread with tens of thousands of likes read, “We can finally tell our parents a Jedi is Korean.” Combine that with the worldwide hype, and it’s clear — the Lucasfilm gamble paid off before the first episode even aired.
Wider Implications: Star Wars and the World
Let’s zoom out. What does Lee’s casting say about the state of sci-fi storytelling? For one, it finally cracks open the Star Wars temple to a global circle. Hollywood doesn’t just export heroes anymore; it imports them. Lee’s Jedi fits the modern audience, patching up two decades of “diversity talk” with real action.
Plus, with Disney and Lucasfilm trying to freshen the franchise, banking on both international icons and mysterious new eras (hello, High Republic), The Acolyte becomes not just a show but a signal flare. The message is clear: stories are richer, weirder, and more fun when the whole galaxy shows up.
Squid Ink in The Force: What’s Next?
So where does this wild fusion take us? Lee Jung-jae’s breakneck pivot from desperate player to elder Jedi is more than a career move. It’s the reason international talent finally stands at the center of pop culture’s longest-running space opera. Viewers who loved the jaw-dropping plot twists of “Squid Game” should buckle up for the Force-fueled intrigue in The Acolyte.
And here’s the kicker: Lee’s journey isn’t just about lightsabers or Emmys. It’s about connecting fans from Seoul, LA, London, and beyond — showing them all that anyone can wear the Jedi robe. As the series launches, don’t be surprised if Master Sol becomes your next Star Wars obsession — and maybe, just maybe, helps the galaxy become a little more inclusive, one epic saber duel at a time.
