How 'Star Wars: The Acolyte' Darth Plagueis Reveal Was Inspired by 'Lord of the Rings' Gollum

Series creator Leslye Headland drew parallels between the mysterious Sith Lord and Tolkien's iconic character

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:44am

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An abstract close-up photograph featuring shattered glass and glittering shards in dramatic, high-contrast lighting, conceptually representing the mysterious and elusive nature of the Darth Plagueis character.The carefully crafted visual reveal of Darth Plagueis in The Acolyte draws inspiration from the iconic introduction of Gollum, leaving fans with a tantalizing glimpse into the Sith Lord's enigmatic presence.Los Angeles Today

Star Wars fans are buzzing after the recent debut of Darth Plagueis, one of the franchise's most anticipated and mysterious characters, in the 2024 Disney+ series The Acolyte. But the reveal has an unexpected inspiration - the introduction of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings. Series creator Leslye Headland wanted to create a similar sense of mystery and suspense, hinting at Plagueis' presence without giving away too much. The VFX team also carefully crafted the character design to be recognizable to die-hard fans, while remaining subtle enough for casual viewers.

Why it matters

For years, fans have speculated about Plagueis, a character briefly mentioned in Revenge of the Sith. The Acolyte's take on the character represents a major development in the Star Wars universe, drawing intriguing parallels to another iconic fantasy franchise. The attention to detail in bringing Plagueis to life has left fans both surprised and delighted, as the creators balance fan service with mainstream appeal.

The details

Headland shared that she drew inspiration from the way Gollum was introduced in The Fellowship of the Ring, wanting to create a similar sense of mystery and suspense. VFX supervisor Julian Foddy explains that the design process focused on subtle hints rather than a full reveal, with the team studying references from various Star Wars media to craft a character that casual viewers might not even notice, but die-hard fans would instantly recognize.

  • The Acolyte, featuring the debut of Darth Plagueis, premiered on Disney+ in 2024.

The players

Leslye Headland

The creator and showrunner of the Disney+ series The Acolyte.

Julian Foddy

The VFX supervisor who oversaw the design and visual development of Darth Plagueis for The Acolyte.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to create a sense of mystery and suspense, revealing just enough to hint at the character's presence without giving away too much.”

— Leslye Headland, Creator and Showrunner, The Acolyte

“The design process focused on subtle hints rather than a full reveal. By studying references from various Star Wars media, we crafted a character that casual viewers might not even notice, but die-hard fans would instantly recognize.”

— Julian Foddy, VFX Supervisor, The Acolyte

What’s next

The future of Darth Plagueis' story in the Star Wars universe remains uncertain, but the creators have laid the groundwork with meticulous care, leaving fans with a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been. Fans can only hope that one day, they'll witness the full 'Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise' on screen.

The takeaway

The creative decision to draw inspiration from the introduction of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings for the reveal of Darth Plagueis in The Acolyte has been a hit with Star Wars fans. The attention to detail in crafting a character that balances fan service and mainstream appeal is a testament to the show's commitment to honoring the franchise's rich lore while captivating a wide audience.