Manny Jacinto, the breakout star from Disney+’s Star Wars series The Acolyte, has revealed he had to keep his character’s true nature a secret for two years. Known for roles in The Good Place and Nine Perfect Strangers, Jacinto’s portrayal as Qimir might be his most complex role yet.
A Complex Role Revealed
When we’re first introduced to Manny Jacinto’s Qimir in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte, we discover he’s working with Jedi assassin Mae (Amandla Stenberg) producing the poison that she requested to use against Jedi Master Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman).
This revelation comes as part of Episode 5, marking a pivotal point in the series where Qimir tags along with Mae, leading to unexpected dynamics between their characters.
The Strain of Secrecy
Manny shared the emotional toll of keeping such a significant secret, stating, I’ve been lying to people for the last two years—some straight up call me out and they’re like, ‘I don’t trust what you’re saying.’ It gives me a lot of anxiety.
Preparing for Action
Jacinto also reflected on the physical demands of embodying Qimir. He dedicated nearly four months to rigorous training for a major fight scene. The preparation included boxing, high kicks, and choreography work, leveraging his dance background for fluid action sequences:
This was the first time I really got to dig into something with so much action… We worked on everything. They conditioned my body so that I could get through this five-person fight scene.
Casting Shadows in the Galaxy
The dynamic between characters like Master Sol, played by Lee Jung-jae, and Qimir adds depth to the narrative. As Jacinto said, they wanted to take Qimir from a low-status character to one pulling the strings:
We talked a lot about how you take a low-status character and convert him to a badass… all of a sudden he’s actually the guy pulling the strings.
A Future Unfolding
The upcoming episodes of The Acolyte are set to explore more intricate plots and intense action scenes. As fans dissect each episode, anticipating who will emerge next, it’s evident this Galaxy has many secrets left to reveal.
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