After watching the first teaser for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. I knew that we were in for something special. The coming-of-age adventure wowed me at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. The series has immediate Amblin and Spielbergian vibes. It’s safe to say the series may live up to its rumored “Stranger Things meets Star Wars” moniker. I’m also loving the fan theories that Skeleton Crew may just be a Captain EO prequel series. Other fans are comparing it to Goonies and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.If any of those comparisons mean anything to you then you’re in for a real treat.
The Amblin vibes are strong throughout the teaser. Do you know who was influential in Amblin fare outside of Steven Spielberg?
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. Kennedy co-founded the production company Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and her husband Frank Marshall. Her first film as a producer was E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
To me, this seems like Kennedy returning to her roots but doing it within the Star Wars universe. I think the Amblin style lends itself to Star Wars extremely well. Not to mention Spider-Man: Homecoming Jon Watts has delivered on projects before. This is just a new way for him to flex his direction and storytelling skills.
Skeleton Crew also has the most loaded directors list yet. Jon Watts (Spider-Man trilogy), David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon), Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Jake Schreier (Thunderbolts*), Bryce Dallas Howard (The Mandalorian), and Lee Isaac Chung (Twisters).
Jon Watts’ direction evokes incredible emotion. David Lowery knows how to create mood and has a strong visual style. The Daniels have a chaotic yet charming direction. Jake Schreier will bring something different to the galaxy, just like what he’s doing in the MCU. Lee Isaac Chung has directed an episode of The Mandalorian but he also knows how to direct action and impactful characters as seen in Twisters. Bryce Dallas Howard has directed some of the best Star Wars TV episodes, and she’s just adding to an already loaded directing crew.
The series will be told through the perspective of the four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet before getting lost in the dangerous galaxy.
The series will follow Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), Neel (Robert Timothy Smith), and their motley crew: the mysterious and enigmatic Jedi Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) and the droid SM-33 (voiced by Nick Frost), the decrepit first mate of the Onyx Cinder. The cast also includes Tunde Adebimpe and Kerry Condon.
“At its core it’s a story about wanting to explore a world that’s bigger than your own,” Watts tells StarWars.com. “I think that’s something that people can relate to, no matter how old you are.”
“And setting a new group of characters off on their first adventure is fascinating, especially getting to see how they will grow over time,” said Ford.
This show has a lot of things going for it. It’s set within the Mandoverse (New Republic). It has distinct Amblin vibes. It has a talented directors list. The creators have guided successful franchises before. Not to mention, Kathleen Kennedy should feel right at home producing something like this. I couldn’t be more pumped to watch Skeleton Crew.
Executive producers are Christopher Ford, Jon Watts, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson.
The first two episodes of Skeleton Crew premiere on December 3 on Disney+.
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Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
