Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew | |
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Genre | |
Created by | |
Based on | Star Wars by George Lucas |
Showrunners |
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Starring |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Production location | Los Angeles, California |
Cinematography | Sean Porter |
Editor | Andrew S. Eisen |
Production company | Lucasfilm |
Original release | |
Network | Disney+ |
Related | |
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is an upcoming American science fiction television series created by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford for the streaming service Disney+. It is part of the Star Wars franchise, taking place in the same time frame as the series The Mandalorian and its interconnected spin-offs after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). Skeleton Crew tells a coming-of-age story about four children who make a discovery on their home planet, get lost in the galaxy, and go on an adventure to get back home.
Jude Law stars in the series with Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon, and Nick Frost. Watts approached Lucasfilm about telling an Amblin Entertainment-style coming-of-age story set in the Star Wars universe, and he was developing the series with Ford by early 2022. It was officially announced that May at Star Wars Celebration, with Law revealed to be starring. Filming began by September 2022 in Los Angeles, and wrapped by late January 2023. The child actors in the series were revealed in April 2023. Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Favreau, and Dave Filoni returned from The Mandalorian as additional executive producers.
Skeleton Crew is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on December 3, 2024, and will consist of eight episodes.
Premise
[edit]The series follows four children who end up on an adventure to make their way home after being lost in the galaxy following a discovery they make on their home planet.[1]
Cast
[edit]- Jude Law as Jod Na Nawood: A Force-user.[2][3] Law described Nawood as a quick-thinker who uses his charm to get out of different scenarios.[3]
- Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim[3]
- Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Fern[3]
- Kyriana Kratter as KB[3]
- Robert Timothy Smith as Neel[3]
- Tunde Adebimpe[4]
- Kerry Condon[4]
- Nick Frost as the voice of SM 33: The decrepit droid first mate of the Onyx Cinder[5]
Additionally, Jaleel White appears in an undisclosed role.[6]
Episodes
[edit]No. | Title | Directed by | Written by [7] | Original release date |
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1 | TBA | TBA | Christopher Ford & Jon Watts | December 3, 2024[3] |
The series was written by Christopher Ford & Jon Watts, excluding the fifth and sixth episodes which were written by Myung Joh Wesner.[7] Watts, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, David Lowery, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung directed the episodes.[2]
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]In February 2022, Production Weekly revealed the existence of an upcoming, untitled Star Wars series that was being developed under the working title Grammar Rodeo.[8] Jon Watts was reportedly being considered to direct at least one episode of the series, with Jon Favreau serving as an executive producer after creating the Star Wars series The Mandalorian. The new series was reported to be set during the High Republic era, with a formal announcement planned for Star Wars Celebration in May 2022.[9][10] In mid-May, Watts and Christopher Ford were revealed to have created the series, with the pair executive producing and Ford serving as writer. The series was also revealed to be set after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), just like The Mandalorian, and was described as a "galactic version of classic [Amblin Entertainment] coming-of-age adventure films of the '80s".[11]
During Star Wars Celebration at the end of May 2022, the series' title was revealed to be Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.[12] Dave Filoni was serving as an executive producer after doing the same on The Mandalorian and its other spin-off series alongside Favreau.[13] Another executive producer, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, explained that Watts had approached her about making a Star Wars series inspired by the Amblin film The Goonies (1985). Kennedy, who had served as an executive producer on that film and as co-founder of Amblin Entertainment, said Skeleton Crew "evolved out of that kind of enthusiasm in wanting to tell stories in this space". Favreau felt that when Watts and Ford had pitched the series to Kennedy, they were "speaking right to the person who was there and knows the 11 herbs and spices that go into it".[14][15] Ford said Kennedy told them that she never thought of Amblin's films as being for kids, but rather being stories that "just happen to be about kids, a story of a kid going on an adventure". This inspired him to develop the show for audiences of all ages.[16]
In March 2023, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, as well as David Lowery were revealed to have directed an episode each.[17][18] The following month, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung were announced as additional directors.[2] By August 2024, Watts and Ford were considered to be showrunners of the series.[5] Colin Wilson also executive produces, with Susan McNamara and John Bartnicki as producers.[19]
Writing
[edit]Myung Joh Wesner also serves as writer on the series, alongside Ford and Watts.[7] Skeleton Crew was confirmed to occur within the same time frame as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka,[13] referencing those series along with the Star Wars films.[3] Ford had described Skeleton Crew's tone as being an "adventure", desiring to make it an enjoyable series, but also containing danger. He had further gone on to say that the situation would be "extra fraught" when the kids were in danger. Jude Law had said that his character was "a lot of the world that they experience: contradictory, and at times a place of nurture and other times a place of threat" and that the series would be conveyed through the perspective of the children. Law had also concurred with Ford in agreeing that the series would also depict danger, calling the relationship between the children and adults a "goofy relationship ... And then other times it's really quite dark and quite scary".[16] He added that he and the young cast were "in constant state of confusion and jeopardy and challenge", with Skeleton Crew depicting them working together to overcome those fears.[3] Favreau had also wanted the series to convey many tones that "reflects the storyteller of the filmmaker", which had been the same method he had used when working on The Mandalorian.[15]
Design
[edit]Louise Mingenbach serves as the costume designer.[20]
Casting
[edit]With the February 2022 reports, it was believed the series was looking for four teenage actors and one 30-to-40-year-old actor as its series regulars.[9][10] Casting of the four teenage actors was still underway in May 2022,[11] with Law revealed to be cast in the lead role, reported to be a Force-user, at the end of the month.[12] In April 2023, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong were revealed as the series' lead children,[2][4] with Tunde Adebimpe and Kerry Condon also starring.[4] The next month, Jaleel White revealed that he would appear in the series as a pirate.[6] In July 2024, the series' key characters were revealed: Law portrays Jod Na Nawood, with Cabot-Conyers as Wim, Kratter as KB, Smith as Neel, and Armstrong as Fern. Nick Frost was also revealed to be voicing a droid in the series named SM 33.[3]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography had been happening for "a few weeks" by early September 2022,[21] at Manhattan Beach Studios in Los Angeles County,[9] under the working title Grammar Rodeo (a reference to The Simpsons's episode "Bart on the Road").[11] Sean Porter served as cinematographer.[22] The series utilized the StageCraft Volume technology in addition to stop-motion animation, headed by Phil Tippett, and matte paintings, with one of Industrial Light & Magic's retired painters coming out of retirement to work on the paintings.[23] Filming was scheduled to last until December 2022, and was previously expected to begin as early as June 2022.[9] Filming officially wrapped on January 22, 2023.[24]
Post-production
[edit]Andrew S. Eisen serves as an editor on the series. Eisen previously worked on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.[25]
Marketing
[edit]The first footage for the series was revealed at Star Wars Celebration London in April 2023.[2] The first official trailer and key art was released that August at Disney's D23 convention.[5]
Release
[edit]Skeleton Crew is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on December 3, 2024,[3] and will consist of eight episodes.[7] The series was previously announced at Star Wars Celebration in May 2022 to be releasing in 2023,[12] with White expecting the series to be released in November or December of that year.[6] By late 2023, Skeleton Crew was revealed to be releasing in 2024,[26][27] while a filing for the first episode with the United States Copyright Office indicated an approximate release in January 2024.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ "'Star Wars' Celebration Offers Breaking Movie News, Cast Reveals, and Major Announcements" (Press release). The Walt Disney Company. April 7, 2023. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Moreau, Jordan; Warmann, Amon (April 7, 2023). "'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' Announces Cast, Reveals First Look at Star Wars Celebration". Variety. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kang, Esther (July 31, 2024). "Jude Law Teases 'Childhood Adventure' and Star Wars Easter Eggs in Skeleton Crew Series — See the First Look! (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Busch, Jenna (April 7, 2023). "Skeleton Crew Will Give Young Star Wars Fans A New Entry Point To The Franchise". /Film. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Skeleton Crew Official Trailer and Key Art Revealed". StarWars.com. August 10, 2024. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lawrence, Daniel David (May 11, 2023). "Jaleel White Is Headed to a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Drops 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' Release Window". Collider. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Skeleton Crew". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ "Production Weekly – Issue 1285 – Thursday, February 10, 2022 / 205 Listings – 47 Pages". Production Weekly. February 9, 2022. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Fisher, Jacob (February 19, 2022). "Jon Watts in Talks to Direct New Star Wars Series for Disney+ (Exclusive)". Discussing Film. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Lovitt, Maggie (February 19, 2022). "Untitled 'Star Wars' Series Eyeing Jon Watts to Direct". Collider. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c Breznican, Anthony (February 19, 2022). "Star Wars: The Rebellion Will Be Televised". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c Otterson, Joe (May 26, 2022). "'Star Wars' Sets New Disney+ Series 'Skeleton Crew,' Jude Law to Star". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- ^ a b "SWCA 2022: 20 Highlights from Lucasfilm's Studio Showcase". StarWars.com. May 27, 2022. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (May 26, 2022). "New Star Wars Series Skeleton Crew Is Inspired by The Goonies (Exclusive)". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Ross, Dalton (May 3, 2023). "Jon Favreau on how the kid-focused Skeleton Crew fits into the Star Wars aesthetic". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Ross, Dalton (June 29, 2023). "Jude Law and Chris Ford drop Star Wars: Skeleton Crew teases". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ Codega, Linda (March 21, 2023). "Don't Worry, the Daniels Aren't Being Subsumed by Star Wars". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (March 30, 2023). "'Star Wars' Series 'Skeleton Crew' Enlists 'Green Knight' Director David Lowery". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ "Skeleton Crew Project Profile 7-24-24" (PDF). The Walt Disney Company. July 24, 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Heather Quesada Resume". heatherquesada.com. April 18, 2024. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Chapman, Wilson; Malkin, Marc (September 9, 2022). "'Skeleton Crew' First Look Sees Jude Law Make 'Star Wars' Debut". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Sean Porter Resume" (PDF). Innovative Artists. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (May 5, 2024). "'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' Uses Stop-Motion by Phil Tippett and Old School Matte Paintings [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (January 22, 2023). "'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew': Disney+ Series Starring Jude Law Wraps Filming". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ "Andrew S. Eisner Resume" (PDF). Murthas Kouras. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Bate, Josh (November 26, 2023). "Five New Star Wars Shows Are Reportedly Debuting on Disney+ in 2024". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ Lussier, Germain (December 4, 2023). "The Marvel and Star Wars Shows Coming to Disney+ in 2024". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Skeleton Crew "Episode 101" (101)". United States Copyright Office. July 3, 2023. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew at IMDb
- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- 2020s American drama television series
- 2020s American television series debuts
- Coming-of-age television shows
- Disney+ original programming
- American English-language television shows
- Productions using StageCraft
- Star Wars television series
- Television shows filmed in California
- Television shows filmed in Los Angeles
- Television series by Lucasfilm
- Upcoming American television series