Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Cast, Showrunners, Directors, Plot And More Details
We haven't seen a "Star Wars" movie in quite a while, but the Force is strong on Disney+. Lucasfilm and the Mouse House have been cranking out a bunch of big-deal TV shows recently, with "Obi-Wan Kenobi," Season 1 of "Andor," Season 3 of "The Mandalorian," and the upcoming "Ahsoka" series. However, there's another notable series on the slate, and it'll boldly go where no "Star Wars" show has before (wait — wrong sci-fi reference).
Instead of focusing on elderly Jedi or 20-something Rebel fighters, "Skeleton Crew" is going to focus on a much younger cast of characters. The heroes of the series will all be kids, which is pretty new for the "Star Wars" universe. Padawans aside, children don't really show up much in this franchise, which is a little unusual considering how popular these projects are with young audiences. But now, the younglings will get their time to shine, and here's everything you need to know about the "Skeleton Crew" series.
When will Skeleton Crew be released?
The year 2024 will see the release of at least two "Star Wars" series. We know for a fact that "The Acolyte" — a show focused on the days of the High Republic — will hit Disney+ sometime in 2024. We also know that it will be joined by "Skeleton Crew," although we don't have an exact month or day just yet. While we know those two series are definitely coming out in 2024 (courtesy of a press release from the UK branch of Disney+), it's also possible we may getting a few other series, such as "The Bad Batch" Season 3. In other words, 2024 will be a fun time for "Star Wars" fans, especially for those who want some brand new characters in their life, courtesy of "The Acolyte" and "Skeleton Crew."
What is the plot of Skeleton Crew?
Set in the post-"Return of the Jedi" world of the New Republic (the same period as "The Mandalorian"), "Skeleton Crew" will follow four 10-year-olds who ditch their school and suburban lives and wind up aboard a starship. What starts out as fun and games takes a serious turn when the kids get lost among the stars and must find their way back home, all while encountering pirates and a mysterious Force-user.
The series is said to have major Amblin vibes. For those who don't know, Amblin is the Steven Spielberg company that produced movies like "Gremlins," "The Goonies," and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." Not so coincidentally, Kathleen Kennedy was one of the major players at Amblin, and as the head of Lucasfilm, she was reportedly able to give the show's creators a whole lot of insight into what made those '80s classics so great. Talking to Entertainment Weekly about that particular style, co-showrunner Christopher Ford explained it's the perfect tone for all ages. "When we told Kathy Kennedy about that we wanted to go for that Amblin tone, which she perfected over the years, what she would say is that they never thought of those as movies for kids. They just happen to be about kids, a story of a kid going on an adventure. So it could be for anyone."
Ford also said we should expect plenty of excitement, telling Entertainment Weekly, "'Skeleton Crew's' tone is an adventure. We wanted it to be a lot of fun. But of course, along with adventure comes the downside of it, which is danger. And when the kids are in danger, it's extra fraught. So we played with that, but overall we wanted it to be just a fun adventure."
Who is starring in Skeleton Crew?
"Skeleton Crew" is shining the spotlight on four young stars with bright futures. The pint-sized characters lost in space will be portrayed by Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong.
Cabot-Conyers already has some serious Disney experience, voicing the animal-loving Antonio in "Encanto." Kratter is also no stranger to the House of Mouse, as she played Nadine in the Disney Channel series "Bunk'd." Smith has shown up in projects like "Mythic Quest" and "Good Girls," while Armstrong is probably the most seasoned of the young stars. She played a young Taskmaster in "Black Widow," starred alongside Zac Efron in "Firestarter," worked with Nicolas Cage in "The Old Way," and has appeared in projects like "IT Chapter Two," "The Tomorrow War," and "American Horror Story."
Joining these youngsters, Jude Law is set to play a Jedi whose intentions are a bit enigmatic. Speaking with Empire, Law explained, "[The kids] need guidance, but they're vulnerable. And so throughout, the people they meet, you question all of them. Is my character nice? Is he not? ... Seeing this galaxy, this world that we've all grown up loving and the jeopardy, the divides, the heroes, the villains through the eyes of children is brilliant."
We can also expect Kerry Condon, who earned an Oscar nomination for her turn in "The Banshees of Inisherin." It also seems likely that Marti Matulis will be featured in the show, as we know his character from "The Mandalorian" Season 3 — Vane the pirate — will appear in "Skeleton Crew." And believe it or not, it looks like Steve Urkel is set to star. "Family Matters" actor Jaleel White announced on "Hockey Night in Canada" that he'll be playing a pirate.
Who are the showrunners of Skeleton Crew?
Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni — two of the biggest, most influential names in "Star Wars" — are producing "Skeleton Crew," but they aren't the ones running the show. Those duties fall to Jon Watts and Christopher Ford. These guys have enjoyed one of the wildest rises to Hollywood success in recent memory.
Once upon a time, Watts and Ford were best known for running the YouTube channel Waverlyflams, home to some of the most unique short films you'll ever see. Eventually, the two made a fake trailer for a horror film called "Clown," which caught the attention of Eli Roth. The "Hostel" director encouraged Watts and Ford to actually make "Clown" into a film — which Roth starred in and produced — with both guys writing the script and Watts directing. From there, they got Kevin Bacon to star in their thriller "Cop Car," and that's when Marvel came knocking.
With Kevin Feige's approval, Watts was elevated to one of the MCU's main directors, helming all three "Spider-Man" movies and with Ford co-writing Tom Holland's first solo film, "Homecoming." Ford has also penned the script for the underrated serial killer drama "The Clovehitch Killer," the 2012 sci-fi dramedy "Robot & Frank," and the Tom Holland/Daisy Ridley dystopian tale "Chaos Walking."
Now, the two are hopping from one Disney property to another, leaving Marvel for Lucasfilm. With their proven track record of big action sequences, heartfelt emotions, and goofy comedy, we can't wait to see their vision for the "Star Wars" universe.
Who is directing Skeleton Crew?
When it comes to directing talent, "Skeleton Crew" has a full staff. The series boasts some of the very best filmmakers in the business, including showrunner Jon Watts. If you've ever enjoyed a Tom Holland Spider-Man movie, you have Watts to thank, and you'll no doubt love the energy he'll bring to the "Skeleton Crew" series.
Of course, he won't be the only one manning the ship. Bryce Dallas Howard is back in action, having helmed episodes of "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett." David Lowery will also add his directing expertise. Previously, Lowery has directed both eclectic fare like "The Green Knight" and "A Ghost Story" and Disney remakes such as "Pete's Dragon" and "Peter Pan & Wendy" (which also stars Jude Law).
Then there's Jake Schreier, who previously directed "Robot & Frank" from a script by Christopher Ford, "Paper Towns" from the book by John Green, and the acclaimed Netflix revenge comedy "Beef." He's also directing the upcoming "Thunderbolts" movie, so he's obviously making some big inroads at Disney. Lee Isaac Chung is also helming at least one episode. In addition to directing on "The Mandalorian," Chung is most famous for breaking onto the scene with the heartbreaking, Oscar-winning "Minari," and he's also in charge of the upcoming "Twisters" sequel.
Of course, while all these people are super talented, the most exciting get for "Skeleton Crew" has got to be Daniels. The directing duo made up of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Daniels were the geniuses behind the action-comedy "Everything Everywhere All at Once," which won seven Academy Awards — including best original screenplay and best directing for Kwan and Scheinert.
Is there a trailer for Skeleton Crew?
At the moment, there's no publicly available trailer for "Skeleton Crew." However, footage was aired at the 2023 Star Wars Celebration, and we're more than happy to let you know what exactly went down. The trailer kicks off with our 10-year-old heroes ditching the world of suburbia to explore a nearby forest — where they somehow board a starship and leave their parents behind.
The four kids — one of whom is an Ortolan (think Max Rebo from Jabba's palace) — soon find themselves zipping across the cosmos. While their parents plead with them to come back, the kids are soon facing off against a band of pirates, and they're eventually tossed into a crude jail cell. However, that's when Jude Law steps out of the shadows, levitating a key with his Force powers. And then the trailer ends, leaving us to wonder what will happen next to this scrappy band of heroes.
Where to watch the previous Star Wars TV shows
While we're waiting for "Skeleton Crew" to fly its way onto our screens, there's plenty of "Star Wars" content ready for you to binge. Want to see the adventures of bounty hunter Din Djarin and his adorable, Force-using ward, Grogu? Curious about what Obi-Wan Kenobi was up to between "Revenge of the Sith" and "The Force Awakens?" Ever wondered how Boba Fett got out of that Sarlacc pit? Want to see if Cassian Andor's critically acclaimed tale lives up to the hype?
Well, if you're in the mood for "The Mandalorian," "Obi-Wan Kenobi," "The Book of Boba Fett," or "Andor" — or upcoming series like "Ahsoka," "The Acolyte," and yes, "Skeleton Crew" — there's only one place where you can find these "Star Wars" adventures, and that's Disney+. There, you can also discover series like "Star Wars: Visions," "The Bad Batch," and "The Clone Wars."