If you’re a Star Wars fan or simply someone who enjoys watching passionate fan campaigns unfold, you might have heard of the #SaveTheAcolyte movement. Fans of The Acolyte, a recent addition to the Star Wars universe, are rallying together to save their beloved show from the clutches of potential cancellation. And they’re not just tweeting about it — they’re crowdfunding a billboard in Times Square.
Wait, what? A billboard? Yes, you read that right. Let’s dive into this fan-driven movement, explore how a Times Square billboard became the symbol of their determination, and why it’s drawing attention.
What is The Acolyte and Why Do Fans Care?
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty of the billboard campaign, let’s talk about The Acolyte. For the uninitiated, The Acolyte is a live-action series set in the Star Wars universe. Unlike many other Star Wars projects, this show takes place during the High Republic era, hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga.
What made the show special for many fans is its focus on new, diverse characters, with a strong female lead and a darker tone compared to the traditional Jedi-centric stories. The fresh take on the Star Wars lore and underexplored timelines resonated with a lot of fans who were tired of the same old stories. However, despite its strong niche following, there have been rumors that the show might not get a second season, which has stirred fans into action.
The Birth of #SaveTheAcolyte
If there’s one thing Star Wars fans are known for (besides their love for lightsabers), it’s their ability to organize. When rumors about The Acolyte’s potential cancellation started spreading, a group of dedicated fans decided to launch the #SaveTheAcolyte campaign to try and ensure the show gets renewed. But they didn’t stop there. They wanted to make sure their voices were heard loud and clear — and what better place to do that than in the heart of New York City?
A Billboard in Times Square
So, what exactly is the campaign’s goal? Well, the idea is simple yet ambitious: raise enough money to put up a billboard in Times Square, one of the busiest and most iconic locations in the world. The logic is pretty straightforward — if you want Disney and Lucasfilm to notice you, plaster your message in a place they can’t ignore.
To accomplish this, the organizers set up a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $2,200 to fund the billboard. According to their estimates, this amount would cover multiple ad slots in Times Square over a period of two months (October to December 2024). These ads would run intermittently, promoting the show and urging Disney to renew it for a second season.
It’s a bold move, but fan campaigns like this have been successful in the past. Remember the Snyder Cut of Justice League? Fans raised money for billboards, and, well, the rest is history. Could The Acolyte be the next fan-powered success story?
How Much Has Been Raised So Far?
As of the latest update, the #SaveTheAcolyte GoFundMe has raised over $5,000 — more than double the initial target! The enthusiasm is palpable, with fans leaving comments on the fundraiser page about their love for the show and why they feel it deserves another season. Many supporters believe that The Acolyte represents a new era of storytelling for Star Wars and want to see more stories from diverse perspectives.
What’s interesting is the level of transparency the campaign has maintained. The organizers have shared a clear breakdown of costs, including the pricing of the billboard ads, to assure donors that their money is being used wisely. The funds are strictly for the Times Square campaign, with the goal of catching the attention of the decision-makers at Disney and Lucasfilm.
Fan Campaigns: A New Way to Save Shows?
This isn’t the first time fans have rallied to save a show. Over the years, fan campaigns have saved numerous TV shows from cancellation. Some notable examples include Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Lucifer, both of which were revived after strong fan outcry. However, the Star Wars universe is a different beast altogether. While Disney and Lucasfilm certainly pay attention to what fans are saying, the scale of production and investment in Star Wars projects is massive. Convincing the powers that be to renew a show is no small feat, but The Acolyte fans are determined to try.
The Power of Billboards: Will It Work?
You might be wondering, “Do billboards even work for campaigns like this?” The answer is a solid “maybe.” There’s no denying that Times Square is a highly visible and impactful location. Thousands of people — including key decision-makers in the entertainment industry — pass through every day. And when it comes to making a statement, a Times Square billboard is one of the most attention-grabbing ways to do it.
Past campaigns, such as the aforementioned Snyder Cut billboard or the campaigns to save shows like The Expanse, have shown that fan efforts can make a difference. At the very least, it raises awareness, and that’s the first step in getting the attention of studios.
What’s Next for The Acolyte?
Whether the billboard will succeed in bringing The Acolyte back for a second season is anyone’s guess. However, it’s clear that the fanbase isn’t going down without a fight. The combination of social media buzz and a physical presence in a major location like Times Square gives them a solid chance of being noticed.
If you’re curious about the campaign or thinking about contributing, the GoFundMe page is still active, and the organizers are continuing to update their supporters with progress reports. For now, fans of The Acolyte will be watching closely to see if their efforts pay off.
Final Thoughts: A Fanbase United
At the end of the day, whether or not you’re a fan of The Acolyte, it’s hard not to admire the passion and dedication of its supporters. Fan campaigns like #SaveTheAcolyte remind us of the power that communities can have when they come together for something they love. Whether it’s enough to convince Disney and Lucasfilm to give the show another shot remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: these fans are determined to make their voices heard, one billboard at a time.
