Star Wars: Skeleton Crew aims to breathe some much-needed life into Lucasfilm’s struggling media landscape. The only other major live-action Star Wars project this year was The Acolyte, which unfortunately got thrown into an unnecessary culture war, to put it mildly, before eventually getting a quiet cancelation that led to even more controversy. So, real Star Wars fans (who don’t get furious when they see women or people of color on their screens) are undoubtedly now nervous about the future of this franchise. On top of Lucasfilm’s constant film production delays not being good indicators of the studio’s overall management, unavoidable culture wars surrounding Star Wars could continue to affect potential projects, and to noticeably higher degrees as well.
Created by long-time writing partners Christopher Ford and Jon Watts, the latter of whom is also known for directing the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew feels like a refreshing break from all of the nonsense that’s recently clouded over the franchise. This Disney+ original series follows a cast of all-new characters on a low-stakes adventure across the stars, coming across never-before-seen planets in a narrative that features minimal connections to the Jedi and the Force. Surely, this will be safe from being corrupted by right-wing culture wars, right? That being said, Skeleton Crew has its unique ambitions separate from the greater franchise, and it deserves to be further discussed and appreciated in a vacuum away from controversy.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is set in the same time period as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, post-Return of the Jedi. The series tells a coming-of-age story about four children on a planet with elements similar to ours who stumble into a whimsical quest after accidentally being sent out into the galaxy. On that journey, they meet the mysterious Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), who promises to help them return to their home planet. However, Jod may not be all that he seems.
Much has already been said about how this latest Star Wars series takes heavy inspiration from 1980s children’s adventure films. More specifically, ’80s flicks from Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall’s initial run at Amblin Entertainment, like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The Goonies. This Amblin influence is immediately noticeable, but not in a way that is grating for the audience. The ’80s inspirations work to embolden the atmosphere and characters of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and make it an even stronger show rather than just feeling derivative or like cheap nostalgia bait.
Audiences of all ages will find something to love in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Younger viewers will enjoy seeing themselves in the show’s main group of child protagonists. Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong a), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) all bring something wonderful to the table, each of the kids capturing something valuable about our wondrous youths that eventually gets lost into adulthood. Meanwhile, the actual adventure at hand is fascinating enough for older viewers and ends up becoming a very exciting mystery to theorize about and see unfold. Jon Watts and Christopher Ford have succeeded in telling a Star Wars story with truly universal appeal, never catering too much to a singular demographic.
The pressure to lead a new original Star Wars show could not be higher, and it’s the reason why many veteran adult actors in the past have even passed on the opportunity. However, the titular, young Skeleton Crew team takes it all in stride and proves themselves as more than worthy of joining the franchise. Additionally, it would be wrong not to highlight Robert Timothy Smith’s hilarious performance as the little blue elephant child, Neel. Smith wore a practical suit on-set while providing facial motion capture under a large animatronic head for the entire series. It’s a very impressive feat that should be celebrated, as it helps elevate Neel as a new adorable Star Wars icon of sorts.
The criticisms around the visuals usually seen in live-action Star Wars TV shows have been virulent, especially when it comes to ILM’s The Volume. Unlike Andor and The Acolyte, Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau served as hands-on producers on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, so there was no avoiding The Volume right from the start. However, it feels like Jon Watts and his all-star directing team — which is made up of David Lowery (The Green Knight), The Daniels (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Jake Schreier (Thunderbolts*), Lee Isaac Chung (Twisters), and Bryce Dallas Howard (The Mandalorian) — actually managed to make The Volume look magical again.
Sure, the suburban home planet the main kids all come from plainly looks like a futuristic version of San Diego, although that’s more of an intentional design choice, as revealed in hints throughout the show. Once the kids are jettisoned off-world, the possibilities with the visual effects make way for a beautiful series. Not only is The Volume used with such care here, but the practical creatures that roam around all the planets explored are glorious as well. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew showcases a wide range of imaginative, practical monsters that will hook the attention of every viewer. This is where those ’80s Amblin inspirations feel the most authentic, as new strange aliens and threats lurk at every corner.
The first 3 episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew promise a thrilling adventure for all ages, packed with fun exploration for kids and a fascinating mystery at the center for adults to unravel and become invested in. At the center of this series are four child actors who should be applauded for their strong performances in such a high-pressure environment. When Jon Watts promised a new original show that would be just like The Goonies and E.T., it’s easy to imagine how that pitch could have been a simple marketing ploy, but it wasn’t. Skeleton Crew is a genuine homage to these classics while paving its own special place in the Star Wars canon.
The first two episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew premiere on December 2 on Disney+!
Premiere Date: December 2, 2024.
Created by Jon Watts & Christopher Ford.
Based on Star Wars by George Lucas.
Showrunners: Jon Watts & Christopher Ford.
Series Directors: Jon Watts, David Lowery, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, & Lee Isaac Chung.
Executive Producers: Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, & Colin Wilson.
Main Cast: Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon, Nick Frost, Marti Matulis, Jaleel White, Fred Tatasciore, Mike Estes, & Dale Soules.
Composer: Mick Giacchino.
Episode Count: 8 (Season One).
