Lee Jung-jae as Jedi master Sol in the 'Star Wars: The Acolyte' / Captured from YouTube

Lee Jung-jae, who will play the lead in the new Star Wars series, 'The Acolyte," expressed his excitement and disbelief about being part of the iconic franchise.

"I still can't believe the fact that I'm in Star Wars," he said, adding that he vividly remembers the awe he felt when he first watched Star Wars in the theater as a child.

On May 4, Disney+ released the main trailer for "The Acolyte" along with a special feature focusing on "Master Sol" Lee Jung-jae on YouTube. The series is set 100 years before "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace."

Lee plays Jedi Master Sol in the series. The trailer features Lee with long hair and a cape, performing dynamic action scenes. Describing his character, Lee said, "Sol is a responsible and skilled Jedi Master, willing to sacrifice everything for peace."

He added, "Sol often hides his emotions rather than expressing them outwardly," elaborating on the character's personality. The series revolves around Jedi Master Sol investigating a series of unprecedented Jedi murders.

Regarding his lightsaber action scenes, Lee said, "I practiced quite a bit with swords in Korea, but lightsabers are different," he said.

A poster of 'Star Wars: The Acolyte' / Courtesy of Disney+

The team behind "Star Wars: The Acolyte" expressed great admiration and praise for Lee.

Leslie Headland, who wrote and directed the series, said, "I was writing the character of Sol when 'Squid Game' came out. I said that's Sol." She went on to praise him further, saying, "He just ran the gamut of every single emotion."

Korean-born American filmmaker Kogonada, who directed episodes 3 and 7, also said, "He has been a legendary actor for years. He has real ownership of his character."

Amandla Stenberg, who plays May in the series, said, "Lee Jung-jae just shines so beautifully in this role. He looks fantastic when he fights."

"The Acolyte," starring Lee, will be released on Disney+ on June 5. The series brings together a production team that has worked on previous "Star Wars" masterpieces, promising to continue its legacy.

This article was assisted by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.