Force-Fu, an amazing combination of martial arts and the Force, comes to Star Wars from the hands of Carrie-Anne Moss.
Carrie-Anne Moss, best known for her iconic role as Trinity in The Matrix, is set to delight Star Wars fans with a new performance in “The Acolyte” series. Moss will play Jedi Master Indira, who uses a unique blend of kung fu skills and Jedi powers called “Force-Fu”. This innovative method of combat promises to offer a new and dynamic vision of how a Jedi can use the Force.
Jedi Master Indira and her unique fighting style
Set 100 years before the events of “The Phantom Menace,” “The Acolyte” series takes us back to the height of the High Republic era. In this context, we find the Jedi Master Indira, a character who is not only powerful but also offers a new way to use the force in battle. In several interviews, Carrie-Anne Moss described the basic tenets of the Jedi Creed as her character combines kung fu moves with the use of the Force to create a fight choreography that reflects art and defense.
During an appearance on Good Morning America, Carrie-Anne Moss shared the fascinating details of how “Force-Fu” was created for her character. The actress said that although the fight sequences were mainly based on traditional kung fu, a special choreographer was hired to help blend the forceful moves with Indira’s moves. Moss explains how interesting it is for her to think about the power system that Jedi train and develop.
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“Jedi energy, that kung fu-like force field, I think is my favorite idea. We all have this energy system, and these Jedi are training to develop it. That was really interesting to me, as a meditation, it’s a concept I like…”
With the help of an expert on set, Moss learned to combine kung fu moves with the use of force, believing she would find her own way to apply these principles. According to Moss, the resulting combination is not only visually stunning, but resonates deeply with the values of the Jedi Order.
Force-fu precedent in the saga
The introduction of “Force-Fu” in “The Acolyte” promises to be novel, but it’s not the first time we’ve seen a Force-assisted fighting style in the Star Wars universe. In the 2023 sequel “Ahsoka,” the Jedi used a similar tactic when confronting Ezra Bridger (played by Iman Esfandi) as well as Sheen Hattie (Ivana Sakno). However, Ezra’s use of this technique is due to the lack of a lampshade, while Master Indira seems to prefer this style over her weapon.
Indara, with his extensive experience and training as a Jedi Master, is not only adept at combining Force techniques with traditional combat tactics, but is also highly attuned to the basic precepts of the Jedi Order. Indara’s decision to use “Force-Fu” instead of igniting her lightsaber demonstrates the Jedi principle of using the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack. This philosophy expressed by Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back is reflected in the way Indira approaches battle.
The legacy of the Trinity in the new universe
The choice of Carrie-Anne Moss for this role is not accidental. “Acolyte” creator Leslie Helland says that the character of Indara was directly inspired by the Trinity from The Matrix. It’s a clear reference to the idea of a “Trinity with a lightsaber” and promises that we’ll see the same fighting moves that Moss was famous for in The Matrix. The excitement of seeing Moss apply his martial arts skills in the Star Wars universe adds to the excitement of fans of both franchises.
Set to premiere June 4 on Disney+, “The Acolyte” is set to introduce a new dimension to Jedi combat that is sure to leave a lasting mark on the Star Wars universe.