Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.A live-action adaptation of Sith Lord Darth Revan, so news that the franchise is looking to include him in a project is especially encouraging for KOTOR fans.

If a live-action KOTOR adaptation is in the future, then it could have a unique opportunity to fulfill one of The Acolyte's promises. The Acolyte, the most recent live-action Star Wars show, was marketed as several different things, most notably as an investigation of the Sith and their ways. KOTOR would certainly fulfill this particular promise, but it also has a chance to make good on one of The Acolyte's other promises. If it does, a live-action Knights of the Old Republic adaptation could actually solve one of its biggest hurdles.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic’s Darth Revan Twist Isn’t A Surprise Anymore

The biggest twist in Knights of the Old Republic, that the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Revan was actually the player character, isn't a twist anymore. KOTOR originally 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 Wars articles and videos, and various other places. It's rarer to find someone who hasn't had KOTOR spoiled yet, and a live-action adaptation wouldn't be capable of making that reveal a surprise anymore.

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 in KOTOR because 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, means KOTOR'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 in Star Wars: The Old Republic, which depicted him as a man with long dark hair and a beard. SWTOR is now considered part of the non-canon Star Wars Legends, though, meaning Revan could look completely different in canon. In fact, Revan didn't even have a canonical gender before SWTOR, as they were a customizable character in KOTOR. The fact that Revan could look like absolutely anyone creates a unique opportunity for a KOTOR adaptation to fulfill The 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 Acolyte originally promised to be a Star Wars murder mystery. Unfortunately, it didn't really deliver on that promise, as it quickly revealed Mae killed the Jedi, and Qimir's identity as the Sith Lord of The Acolyte was very easy to spot. Even the truth about Brendok was less of a mystery and more of a dark backstory for Osha and Sol. While The Acolyte may not have been able to deliver a satisfying Star Wars mystery, Knights of the Old Republic could do it with one simple change.

Something needs to change with KOTOR's reveal of Revan's identity, and that change could deliver on The Acolyte's promise. Most of the people who would watch a live-action KOTOR adaptation 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, the KOTOR adaptation 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.

Obviously, changing the identity of Revan would be a massive adjustment to Knights of the Old Republic's story and characters, but it could be worth it. KOTOR the 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 the KOTOR adaptation 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 the KOTOR remake might still be in development. The remake can preserve the nearly perfect story of KOTOR in game format, which would give the adaptation a chance to implement its changes. If a live-action adaptation of Knights of the Old Republic ever happens, changing Revan's identity may be the best way to make it an interesting and surprising mystery.