Ahead of Skeleton Crew Release: What We Know So Far
The upcoming Star Wars series Skeleton Crew is just around the corner on 12/2/24, and while details are still under wraps, here’s what we’ve pieced together so far:
Jude Law – Jod Na Nawood: The Mysterious Mentor
Jude Law plays Jod Na Nawood, a mysterious figure who promises to help a group of lost children find their way home. At first, he lets the kids believe he’s a Jedi. We catch a brief glimpse of him seemingly levitating a key, which adds to the illusion of his Force sensitivity. However, if he were truly a former Jedi, he’s clearly very far removed from the Order. His attire screams pirate or smuggler, which raises the possibility that he might’ve scavenged or acquired his outfit after a run-in with actual pirates.
A pivotal scene shows him studying ur-Kittat, an ancient language carved into a rock face. Whether he understands it or simply recognizes it remains unclear.
I have two main predictions for Jod’s backstory:
- A trickster — He’s deceiving the kids into thinking he’s a Force user when in reality, he’s just a regular “nobody.”
- A former Jedi turned Inquisitor — He was once a Padawan during the Purge, later became an Inquisitor, but fled when the opportunity arose.
Jude Law has been particularly tight-lipped about his character’s true nature. When asked directly if his character is a Sith, Law simply replied he couldn’t answer directly and that we’ll have to wait and see. One thing’s for sure: he brings a charming, almost “childless uncle” energy to the role. His interactions with the kids are full of warmth, though he clearly struggles to understand how to care for them properly, adding a layer of endearing incompetence to his character.
Ryan Kiera Armstrong – Fern: The Ringleader
Fern, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong, seems poised to be the unofficial leader of the group. From what we’ve seen so far, she’s a natural at questioning authority. Rather than blindly following the rules, she wants to understand why things are the way they are, showing both curiosity and determination. Her leadership potential is clear, but we’re also likely to see her make some bold, risky decisions that could get her and the other kids into trouble.
Kyriana Kratter – KB: The Tech-Savvy One
KB, portrayed by Kyriana Kratter, is another key member of the group, though she’s a bit more of a mystery. Initially, I was disappointed when it was revealed that she’s not a Miraluka (an enigmatic species from Star Wars lore known for their lack of eyes and Force-based vision). I had high hopes after seeing her visor in early teasers, which strongly resembled a Miraluka’s distinctive look in Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR). However, it turns out she simply has normal eyes. Despite this, I’m still excited to see her character unfold. She seems like the tech-savvy, quiet type, and will likely be the go-to for all things mechanical and technological.
Ravi Cabot-Conyers – Wim: The Well-Meaning Troublemaker
Wim, played by Ravi Cabot-Conyers, is the group’s troublemaker—but in a well-meaning, adventurous way. He’s the one who discovers an old, buried starship in the forest and leads the other kids to investigate. With his curiosity and willingness to push boundaries, Wim is likely to be the one responsible for dragging the group into most, if not all, of their dangerous escapades. His dynamic with Fern promises to be a fun, if chaotic, partnership.
Robert Timothy Smith – Neel: The Comedic Relief
Neel is one of the most exciting additions to the show, simply because of his race. He’s not an Ortolan (the same species as Max Rebo), but rather something completely new. Neel’s role seems to be that of the comic relief in the group, thanks to his quirky personality and physical appearance. His actor, Robert Timothy Smith, has mentioned that he was often trying to make his co-stars laugh on and off-screen during filming, which will likely translate to a lighthearted and funny character. Neel’s interactions with the other kids could provide much-needed humor in the midst of the group’s tense, dangerous adventures.
Nick Frost – SM-33: The Pirate Droid
Nick Frost voices SM-33, a pirate droid who accompanies the kids aboard the starship they end up stranded on. Fern makes a bold declaration to SM-33, telling him she killed his captain and is now the new captain of the ship. Surprisingly, the droid accepts this without much protest. Given Nick Frost’s comedic background, we can expect SM-33 to be a sarcastic, possibly even irreverent, counterpart to the more traditional protocol droids like C-3PO. It’ll be fun to see him interact with the kids, offering a mix of humor, deadpan responses, and perhaps even a few moral lessons in his own way.
Kerry Condon and Tunde Adebimpe – Fara and Wendle: The Parents
Fara and Wendle, played by Kerry Condon and Tunde Adebimpe, are the parents of Fern and Wim. Their storylines are still somewhat of a mystery, but we do know that Fara is a schoolteacher and a member of the planetary government. So far, we know Wendle is Wim’s father, but little else has been revealed about him. It’s likely they will both be key players in the search for their missing children, with Fara’s connection to the government perhaps helping them in the quest to find out what happened to the kids.
The Pirates: Who’s After the Kids and Their Ship?
A major antagonist group in the series will be a crew of pirates, including characters played by Jaleel White (yes, Steve Urkel from Family Matters) and a Shistavanen (a wolf-like species of Star Wars lore). We’ve also seen Vane, a pirate who appeared in The Mandalorian season 3, make an appearance. What we don’t know is whether this is a single pirate crew, or if multiple groups of pirates will be after the same thing. After all, the kids’ starship is a pirate vessel, and it’s unclear what, exactly, Jod and the kids might be transporting—whether they know it or not. There’s also the possibility that these pirates aren’t just after the ship, but whatever valuable cargo the ship might be hiding.
There you have it—a quick rundown of what we know so far about Skeleton Crew and its characters. With so many intriguing storylines and mysterious figures, there’s plenty to look forward to when the show drops