What to Know Before the Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Premiere

It’s time to return to a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew™ is poised to take Disney+ by storm with its first two episodes on December 3. After the somber nature of the last few Star Wars™ series, this show looks to subvert the formula and present something different – a starry-eyed, breathless, and giddy adventure. There’s a sense of hope that resonates in each trailer despite the high stakes of the plot. Sure, the kids could fall prey to danger at any moment, but look at how much fun they’re having!

Additionally, there’s a good bit of humor and levity, with star Jude Law having a delightful rapport with his skeleton crew, four kids whose collective discovery sends them on a whirlwind trek through space.

Skeleton Crew seems like the escapism we sorely need. It’s just what the Disney doctor ordered. To celebrate the show’s arrival, here’s what you need to know before tuning in next month.

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The Plot

Skeleton Crew takes place during the New Republic era. For context regarding the franchise, events within the series run concurrently with The Mandalorian™ and Ahsoka™. That means we’re at least five years or more out from Return of the Jedi™, but still roughly 25 years before the rise of the First Order in The Force Awakens™.

The show follows a group of four kids who make a shocking discovery on their seemingly idyllic homeworld. There’s even a suburban-esque neighborhood, which is jarring to see in Star Wars but fun, nonetheless. It’s a lovely change of pace.

As for what these children find, in the trailers, they initially assume it’s a lost Jedi Temple. Remember, at this point, the Jedi Order is nonexistent. However, it appears to be a spaceship. Naturally, they’re too young to be pilots, so their inexperience whisks them away and far into the galaxy to places and planets unknown.

During their impromptu adventures, they meet an enigmatic man who vows to help them get home. Deadly pirates are now on their tail, raising the narrative stakes as these kids try to survive an unforgiving universe.

It looks like a delightful, modern homage to The Goonies. The style is very reminiscent of ’80s action/fantasy flicks and ’90s family-friendly films. It has this innate spark to it that feels like Star Wars.

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The Cast and Crew

Skeleton Crew stars Jude Law, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Robert Timothy Smith, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, Tunde Adebimpe, Nick Frost, and Kerry Condon. The eight-episode miniseries hails from Christopher Ford and Jon Watts (who both worked on the recent Spider-Man trilogy with Tom Holland). Ford and Watts have also penned episodes alongside Myung Joh Wesner. Additionally, the Star Wars dream team and franchise staples Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni serve as executive producers.

Perhaps what’s most impressive about the crew is the handful of top-tier directors on deck. The Daniels, who helmed the award-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, direct one episode.

David Lowery is behind 2021’s The Green Knight and Disney’s live-action Peter Pan & Wendy, which also starred Jude Law as Captain Hook. Lowery is also credited for directing one episode. Watts will also helm the series premiere and finale.

Star Wars veteran Bryce Dallas Howard is on board as a director. Howard has directed three episodes of The Mandalorian, including the fantastic third episode of season 2, “Chapter 11: The Heiress,” and one episode of The Book of Boba Fett™.

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The Characters

Law plays Jod Na Nawood. Jod assists the kids with presumably good intentions, but there’s something about him that’s … amiss. He’s also supposed to be a new kind of Jedi with solid control of the Force. We see this in action in the trailers when he reaches for a set of keys while in a jail cell with the four children.

In one scene, the kids ask Jod if he’s a Jedi. “…’Course,” he says after a pause. Something tells me he’s not who he says he is.

As for the rest of our skeleton crew, Cabot-Conyers portrays Wim, a voracious reader who longs for adventure. His restlessness and hunger for exploration get him into trouble. Armstrong plays Fern, a girl who, beyond her tough façade, is quite big-hearted and loyal to her loved ones.

Kratter is KB, a girl with cybernetic implants due to an accident. She boasts immense intellect and an eye for science. However, beneath all that, she’s a sweet, vulnerable kid.

Smith plays Neel, the elephant-looking alien who’s already my favorite based on the trailers. Neel is a kind kid who ensures everyone is supported and cared for. Jod asks Neel to pilot the ship at one point, and we’ll see how that pans out when the show premieres.

Frost voices SM-33, the droid first mate of the Onyx Cinder, a mysterious starship. You can’t have a Star Wars property without a droid companion or mysterious starships. SM-33 is unwaveringly loyal to the captain of the ship. While he’s seen his fair share of battles and his memory isn’t perfect, he knows his pirate protocol.

Lastly, Adebimpe is Wim’s father, Wendle, and Condon plays Fern’s mother, Fara. In the trailers, Wendle and Fara join forces to bring their children home.

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What do you hope to see when Star Wars: Skeleton Crew premieres?

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