Co-creator of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Chris Ford spoke exclusively with Screen speech about why Star Wars place of the next TV show on Star Wars the timeline is perfect for the story. Skeleton Crew premieres on Disney+ on December 3, 2024and even though that date is approaching, Star Wars kept details about Skeleton Crew largely in secret. Star Wars confirmed that the show features a group of children lost in the galaxy, Jude Law plays a Force-sensitive character named Jod Na Nawood, and the show is set somewhere in the New Republic timeline.
Speaking with Joe Deckelmeier to Screen speech, Skeleton Crew co-creator Chris Ford revealed that this era was chosen intentionally, but not for the reasons many might think. Ford explained:
“Yes, our story is a little more self-contained, but there are connections there. And for us, it felt very natural. … We were looking for a role across the entire Star Wars timeline, when even kids could pick up lost in the galaxy. If you’re in the High Republic era, you’re going to be caught by some Jedi hero in about five minutes. Basically, we were looking for that period because it was a little more chaotic. so there is room for pirates and danger.”
Ford’s comments have fascinating implications not just for the inside story Skeleton Crew but also for its connection to others Star Wars stories.
Skeleton Crew’s Connections to Other Star Wars Shows Won’t Be Key
Although Skeleton Crew will share an era with many of Star Wars best TV shows including The Mandalorian and Ahsokait seems like the show won’t be heavily connected to these other characters or stories. Instead, Ford’s comments suggest that the era of the New Republic was chosen to Skeleton Crew because it means the story can have a lot more wiggle room. Many expected this, especially given its place in the Star Wars timeline, Skeleton Crew would have a direct relationship with other Star Wars movies and TV shows – now, it looks like that might not be the case.
Ultimately, this is good news. It’s safe to assume there will be an occasional cameo or connection (for example, many hope to see Hondo Ohnaka in Skeleton Crew), but Skeleton Crew being independent will offer the public something new and avoid a common Star Wars problem of prioritizing nostalgia over innovation. Even more exciting, it’s been a long time since Star Wars programs and films with pirates featuredwhich the books in the franchise have been doing for a long time.
Our opinion on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Skeleton Crew could really bring something entirely new to the Star Wars screen
There have been many interesting additions Star Wars TV shows recently including The Acolyte and Star Wars: Tales of the Empirethat were released this year. However, both ended up becoming quite linked to other Star Wars projects. The Acolyte still focused primarily on the Jedi (although additions like Brendok’s Witches were very exciting), and Tales of the Empire further explored the stories of Barriss Offee and Morgan Elsbeth, who returned characters.
Skeleton Crewon the other hand, it has the opportunity to present countless completely new stories and concepts. In fact, not only will the focus evidently be on the pirates, at least in part, but also, Jude Law’s character is increasingly looking like he may not be a Jedi after all. This raises interesting questions about who – or what – he could be. With just a few more weeks to go, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is becoming even more intriguing.
Skeleton Crew will premiere on Disney+ on December 3, 2024.