Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.A live-action adaptation ofStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republiccould fulfill one ofThe Acolyte’s most exciting promises, and it could be the perfect way to update the classic game. The idea of a live-action adaptation ofKnights of the Old Republichas always been popular, but it’s recently gained renewed interest after news thatStar Warsis looking to cast Keanu Reeves. Reeves is often chosen as a potential casting for theSith Lord Darth Revan, so news that the franchise is looking to include him in a project is especially encouraging forKOTORfans.
If a live-actionKOTORadaptation is in the future, then it could have a unique opportunity to fulfill one ofThe Acolyte’s promises.The Acolyte, the most recent live-actionStar Warsshow, was marketed as several different things, most notably as an investigation of the Sith and their ways.KOTORwould certainly fulfill this particular promise, but it also has a chance to make good on one ofThe Acolyte’s other promises. If it does, a live-actionKnights of the Old Republicadaptation could actually solve one of its biggest hurdles.
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Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic’s Darth Revan Twist Isn’t A Surprise Anymore
The biggest twist inKnights of the Old Republic, that the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Revan was actually the player character, isn’t a twist anymore.KOTORoriginally released in 2003, and the revelation of Revan’s true identity has been around for 21 years now. In that time, the game’s twist has been included in countless “best plot twists in gaming” lists,Star Warsarticles and videos, and various other places. It’s rarer to find someone who hasn’t hadKOTORspoiled yet, and a live-action adaptation wouldn’t be capable of making that reveal a surprise anymore.
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A big reason Revan’s identity worked as a twist at all is because it was told in an interactive format. The player’s memory loss - which was an essential part of keeping Revan’s identity secret - seemed unremarkable inKOTORbecause that’s a common trope in role-playing games to help build immersion. In live-action, however, that amnesia would immediately make audiences suspicious, since it’s not nearly as common.That, coupled with the fact that Revan’s identity is so well-known, meansKOTOR’s main plot twist would need to be heavily reworked for a live-action adaptation. Luckily, there’s already a very clear way that could be done.
Darth Revan Doesn’t Have A Canonical Appearance In Star Wars
Though Keanu Reeves is a popular fan cast for Darth Revan, the character doesn’t actually have a canonical appearance. Reeves bears a resemblance to Revan inStar Wars: The Old Republic, which depicted him as a man with long dark hair and a beard.SWTORis now considered part of thenon-canonStar WarsLegends, though, meaning Revan could look completely different in canon. In fact, Revan didn’t even have a canonical gender beforeSWTOR, as they were a customizable character inKOTOR.The fact that Revan could look like absolutely anyone creates a unique opportunity for aKOTORadaptation to fulfillThe Acolyte’s promise.
A Live-Action KOTOR Adaptation Could Be The Mystery Show The Acolyte Promised To Be
In addition to being billed as a deep dive into the Sith,The Acolyteoriginally promised to be aStar Warsmurder mystery. Unfortunately, it didn’t really deliver on that promise, as it quickly revealed Mae killed the Jedi, andQimir’s identity as the Sith Lord ofThe Acolytewas very easy to spot. Even the truth about Brendok was less of a mystery and more of a dark backstory for Osha and Sol.WhileThe Acolytemay not have been able to deliver a satisfyingStar Warsmystery,Knights of the Old Republiccould do it with one simple change.
The Acolyte: What Happened On Brendok Explained
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Something needs to change withKOTOR’s reveal of Revan’s identity, and that change could deliver onThe Acolyte’s promise.Most of the people who would watch a live-actionKOTORadaptation know who Revan is, so the adaptation could change Revan’s identity to preserve the game’s massive surprise. By casting someone like Keanu Reeves to portray the player character, yet making a side character like Bastila or Juhani into the amnesiac Revan, theKOTORadaptation could be just as shocking as the original game. The adaptation could even play into such a change by definitively proving that Reeves isn’t Revan, therefore becoming a thrilling whodunit.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
Obviously, changing the identity of Revan would be a massive adjustment toKnights of the Old Republic’s story and characters, but it could be worth it.KOTORthe game is already a masterpiece, and a direct translation of it from game format to live-action just wouldn’t be able to live up.Changing Revan’s identity would give theKOTORadaptation a reason to be made, it would make the story work better in a non-interactive format, and it would make the mystery of his identity just as much of a shock as the original. It may just be the best choice the adaptation could make.
Adding to the list of reasons why such a change could be a good thing is the fact that theKOTORremake might still be in development. The remake can preserve the nearly perfect story ofKOTORin game format, which would give the adaptation a chance to implement its changes. If a live-action adaptation ofKnights of the Old Republicever happens, changing Revan’s identity may be the best way to make it an interesting and surprising mystery.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic tells the story of the Star Wars universe long before the Skywalker family altered the fate of the galaxy. The player assumes control of Revan, an amnesiac Force user who finds themselves thrown into the center of the ancient struggle between the Jedi and the Sith. An open-world RPG that allows the player to explore a galaxy of planets, KOTOR puts an emphasis on player choice: Revan must decide whether to save the galaxy, or conquer it.
