Star Wars- Skeleton Crew - Official Episode 6 Clip (2025) Jude Law

Star Wars- Skeleton Crew - Official Episode 6 Clip (2025) Jude Law

Jod Na Nawood makes a glorious escape followed by an untimely capture in this clip from Episode 6 of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew stars Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon and Nick Frost. The full episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is streaming now on Disney+.

Episodes are directed by Jon Watts, David Lowery, the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard and Lee Isaac Chung.

Jon Watts and Christopher Ford are the head writers and also serve as executive producers along with Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Chris Buongiorno, Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck are the co-executive producers, and Susan McNamara and John Bartnicki are the producers.

The first 6 Episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew are streaming now on Disney Plus with new episodes every week.
So far, we've had lots of uncomplicated fun with Skeleton Crew. Its healthy mix of retro adventures starring 'Amblin kids' and tales of pirates and hidden treasures has been hard to resist. Last week, episode 5 presented a colorful romp through the sort of setting that George Lucas would love, and the new year has gifted us a slower but very heartfelt sixth chapter that's all about strengthening the bonds between the lost children.

After directing what many fans consider to be the worst episode in The Mandalorian's entire three-season run due to a shockingly shoddy and confused script by Jon Favreau, Bryce Dallas Howard makes a notable return to Star Wars TV shows in the aptly titled 'Zero Friends Again' – it's an excellent reminder that she deserves to helm one of the upcoming Star Wars movies. Once again, she effortlessly captured the heart and charm of the story at hand while delivering solid thrills and sequences with that classical, warm feeling.

Still, the same pacing problems that have plagued so many of Lucasfilm's ambitious live-action TV efforts persist. These issues aren't exclusive to Star Wars shows, but it's been a big source of frustration given that Jon Favreau nailed the format during the early seasons of The Mandalorian. By and large, it's easy to see how Skeleton Crew could've been a movie instead, with some chapters feeling autonomous accidentally rather than by design. With only two episodes left to go, we can't see this show breaking down in the final stretch, but the glaring structural flaws are there and should be underlined, especially when everything else is so good.

Looking to the future, there are plenty of upcoming Star Wars games to be excited about as well as the return of Andor in 2025 and The Mandalorian & Grogu hitting cinemas in 2026. The Force really will be with us always!

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Spoilers ahead for Skeleton Crew episode 6: 'Zero Friends Again'

Why did KB become a cyborg?
A young girl looking at the screen, with a second girl that she is talking to visible in the right side of the scene.

Fern is scolded by KB. (Image credit: Disney)
'Zero Friends Again' is KB's episode. After learning a fair bit of background info about the other three kids and exploring their hopes and fears, she was the one member of this skeleton crew waiting for her moment to shine (even if she'd provided excellent tech and mechanical support during the adventure). Of course, this leads directly into the questions surrounding her Lobot-like augmentations.

Episode 5 ended with Jude Law's Jod Na Nawood finally turning on the lost kids after finding the lost coordinates to At Attin and gaining control of SM-33. Wim's button-pushing obsession saved them via a trap door, but where did that fall lead to? It turns out... Lanupa's trash is thrown right below the luxury resort, and Tak Rennod had designed some of his lair's traps to do the same with robbers. As for the threat that lurks in the scrapyard... Let's just say that it was impossible to predict (unless you watched the excellent behind-the-scenes shorts).

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A close-up of a young girl with grey hair and cybernetic implants on her head.

KB opens up about her disability. (Image credit: Disney)
Drama between the kids ensues, with Fern and Neel thinking they should climb back up to the resort and Wim and KB opting to follow a group of chatty trash crabs (that's what they literally are) who could help. The group's cyborg has a potentially lethal problem though: Lanupa's elements have corroded KB's augmentations, limiting her basic ability to speak and move. Neither the surrounding crabs nor the junk give them a clear direction, but the cables lying around are the key to replacing the part she needs fixed.

Wim gets to save his friend like a true Jedi and KB tells him about an accident – the cause isn't really important – which rendered her 'different' and not as physically capable as Fern even if she excels at other things. Her biggest obstacle was simply communicating that to her only friend, but Wim's uplifting words are exactly what she needed at this point, and confirmation she's got more than one pal now. It must be noted that Kyriana Kratter's performance in this scene is fantastic, and Bryce Dallas Howard's sensible direction gives it enough room to hit hard.

Is Jod (or Captain Silvo) winning back his crew?
A man in a dark room surrounded by space pirates.

Jod (aka Captain Silvo) listens to Brutus. (Image credit: Disney)
Elsewhere, Jod and SM-33 are captured by Brutus' crew and taken away, all while New Republic X-Wings arrive and give chase. We're missing a big action sequence here, but seeing those fighters make a sudden, heroic arrival never gets old, and the children take note of their actions, which go directly against what Jod said about them back on Kh'ymm's moon.

Though we spend most of the episode's runtime with the young cast, there's one lengthy conversation between Jod (Silvo to the pirates), Brutus, and the group of money-hungry buccaneers. Jude Law once again reminds us he was a pretty convincing Captain Hook with all his talk about absurd amounts of riches and a pirate shanty that sounds lifted straight from a classic pirate movie. Long story short: He makes a pretty convincing case that he's got more of a vision than Brutus, at least until they get to At Attin, and that might save his neck for now.

Are unlimited Old Republic credits all he wants though? We're not entirely sure about his motivations still. He sounds and behaves like your average scoundrel, but his whole 'fake Jedi' thing remains a massive question mark, and after learning about Tak Rennod's final destination, I'd wager he's got more ambitious plans in mind.

What's the Onyx Cinder's emergency function?
A close up of a giant monster trash crab roaring.

The giant trash crab roars. (Image credit: Disney)
High above Lanupa's scrapyard, Neel struggles to keep up with Fern, who's learning the hard way that she has much to learn about being a leader. They're the key to finding and reclaiming their ship — the Onyx Cinder — after jumping on automated vehicles that are hauling the legendary ship. In the nick of time, they manage to steer them in KB and Wim's direction, saving them from a stop-motion giant crab that confirms the 'friendly' little crabs were just leading them to their doom.

After a very brief respite to reunite, apologize, and start working as a proper team, the next task is to save the now-crashed Onyx Cinder from a massive machine that trashes everything in its path. KB, much like C-3PO in The Rise of Skywalker, recorded the coordinates to At Attin, but they don't mean much without a ship that can get them there. We're fairly sure Lanupa's authorities wouldn't help them, so the garbage will do!

A spaceship caught by a giant garbage disposal machine, trying to escape by reversing away.

A new Onyx Cinder is born. (Image credit: Disney)
Even if the outcome is entirely predictable, Bryce Dallas Howard's knack for thrilling action filled with genuine emotions – coupled with Mick Giacchino's rousing score – makes the sequence another highlight of the show. There's even a moment that will remind Pixar enjoyers of Toy Story 3's climactic 'we're done for' scene, and it may or may not be intentional. Regardless, seeing this skeleton crew fully come together and rely on each other after their ups and downs is an utter delight.

After the ship is locked in place by the fiery machine's 'mouth' and the kids almost make the engine catch fire, the show's biggest 'Chekov's Gun' is fired: the emergency hull demolition sequencer. The Onyx Cinder sheds its hull like a snake does its skin and reveals the true, admittedly shinier ship that had been hiding in plain sight. It's a cool new mechanic we'd never seen in Star Wars before, and the visual execution doesn't disappoint. The team blasts off into space again with At Attin as its destination, but will next week's penultimate episode shed some light on Jod's troubled past before we reach an explosive conclusion?

Watch Star Wars: Skeleton Crew on Disney+
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’s episode titles may seem simple at first glance, but episode 6’s title, “Zero Friends Again,” has multiple hidden meanings. Every Skeleton Crew episode title has been a direct quote from the episode in question. Though a title like “You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates” is relatively straightforward, even that holds more meaning than you might think. “You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates” refers to the kids’ innocent naivety and Jod Na Nawood’s discovery on the high-end spa planet, Lapuna.

The title of Skeleton Crew episode 6, “Zero Friends Again,” however, has a more emotional hidden meaning; one that not only connects Skeleton Crew to some of Star Wars’ most common and pivotal tropes but also lays bare the extent of Jod’s loneliness and isolation. When KB says this line to Wim to explain why she was so hesitant to share her physical limitations, it’s an undeniably powerful moment, and relevant to the rest of the Onyx Cinder crew’s situation as well.

Skeleton Crew's Kids Aren't Friends Anymore... They're Family
Skeleton Crew’s kids are eager to get home, and understandably so. Their adventure past At Attin’s mysterious barrier has undoubtedly been more than they bargained for, as they’ve encountered dangerous pirates, sneaky Force-users, bounty hunters, gotten trapped in a civil war, and been chased by several dangerous creatures, including a giant trash crab. The question is, what will be waiting for them when they get home, and how much better will it be for them?

The few glimpses we’ve seen of the kids with their actual families have been messed up, to say the least. Neel’s family is perhaps the only one that feels relatively normal. Fern is constantly pressured by her high-powered mother. Wim’s father is barely ever home, and when he is, they rarely speak to each other. The kids might be relatively safe once they return to their suburban lives, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll be better off, emotionally speaking.

The Onyx Cinder crew is now a family. KB and the rest will never have to worry about having “zero friends” ever again. Their adventure has bound them together forever.

The found family trope is a staple of Star Wars storytelling. Luke, Leia, and Han; Rey, Finn, and Poe; Star Wars Rebels’ Ghost Crew, Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s Clone Force 99, Din Djarin and Grogu in The Mandalorian – all of these characters found each other when they needed a family the most. Much like the Ghost Crew, the Onyx Cinder crew is now a family as well. KB and the rest will never have to worry about having “zero friends” ever again. Their adventure has bound them together forever.

The Tragedy Of Jude Law's Character Is That He's No Father Figure
While the Onyx Cinder crew kids will likely never have to worry about loneliness again, the opposite is true for Jude Law’s “possibly a Jedi,” Jod. For him, he really has hit the “Zero Friends Again” point of his life. He betrayed the kids who were slowly beginning to trust him and manipulated his old crew into following him to At Attin, even though most of them would rather see him dead.

Wim, Neel, and Fern all edited together in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Related
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Cast & Character Guide
Since Lucasfilm debuted the trailer for Skeleton Crew, it's helpful to know who is in Disney’s latest Star Wars show - & who their characters are.

Father figures are also a staple of Star Wars storytelling, but Jod Na Nawood is – currently, at least – not a true father figure. If he was, if he’d truly wanted to take these kids under his wing and help them find a way home, he could have been a part of the Onyx Cinder family and found a place to belong. Instead, he betrayed them, and now he’s more tragically isolated than ever. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew episode 6 is undoubtedly one of the most emotionally resonant episodes of the series so far.

New episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew premiere Tuesdays exclusively on Disney+.

Skeleton Crew Release Date Schedule
Episode Director Release Date
Episode 6 Bryce Dallas Howard December 31
Episode 7 Lee Isaac Chung January 7
Episode 8 Jon Watts January 14
Skeleton Crew Disney Plus Updated TV Show Poster
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Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
TV-PG
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi
Set in the Star Wars universe, Skeleton Crew follows four young adventurers as they become lost in the galaxy while searching for their home planet. The series chronicles their exploration and encounters with diverse worlds and characters, presenting themes of friendship, discovery, and the quest for belonging.

Release Date
December 2, 2024
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
Franchise(s)
Star Wars
Cast
Jude Law , Ravi Cabot-Conyers , Ryan Kiera Armstrong , Kyriana Kratter , Robert Timothy Smith , Tunde Adebimpe , Kerry Condon , Nick Frost
Character(s)
Jod Na Nawood , Wim , Fern , KB , Neel , Wendle , Fara , SM-33
Seasons
1
Writers
Jon Watts , Christopher Ford
Streaming Service(s)
Disney+
Directors
Jon Watts , Daniel Kwan , David Lowery , Daniel Scheinert , Jake Schreier
Showrunner
Jon Watts , Christopher Ford
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Genre
Adventure
Coming-of-age
Science fiction
Created by
Jon Watts
Christopher Ford
Based on Star Wars
by George Lucas
Showrunners
Jon Watts
Christopher Ford
Starring
Jude Law
Ravi Cabot-Conyers
Ryan Kiera Armstrong
Kyriana Kratter
Robert Timothy Smith
Nick Frost
Composer Mick Giacchino
Country of origin United States
Original language English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 6
Production
Executive producers
Christopher Ford
Jon Watts
Jon Favreau
Dave Filoni
Kathleen Kennedy
Colin Wilson
Producers
Susan McNamara
John Bartnicki
Production location Los Angeles, California
Cinematography
Sean Porter
David Klein
Paul Hughen
Editors
Andrew S. Eisen
Terel Gibson
Katheryn Naranjo
Running time 32–47 minutes
Production companies
Lucasfilm
Golem Creations
Original release
Network Disney+
Release December 2, 2024 –
present
Related
The Mandalorian
The Book of Boba Fett
Ahsoka
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is an American science fiction adventure 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 The Mandalorian series 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, 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 premiered on Disney+ on December 2, 2024, with its first two episodes.

Premise
Nine years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, four children 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 At Attin while befriending a Force-user.[1]

Cast and characters
Starring
Jude Law as Jod Na Nawood: A Force-user who allies with the children.[2][3] Law described Jod as a quick thinker who uses his charm to get out of different scenarios.[3]
Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim: A human boy from the planet At Attin.[3]
Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Fern: A human girl from the planet At Attin.[3]
Kyriana Kratter as KB: A human girl and friend of Fern from the planet At Attin who wears a cybernetic visor connected to an implant on her head ever since an unspecified accident.[3]
Robert Timothy Smith as the voice of Neel: An elephant-like alien boy who is Wim's friend from the planet At Attin.[3] Kacie Borrowman serves as the performance artist for Neel.
Nick Frost as the voice of SM-33: The decrepit droid first mate of the Onyx Cinder.[4] Rob Ramsdell serves as the performance artist for SM-33.
Recurring co-stars
Tunde Adebimpe as Wendle: Wim's dad.[5]
Kerry Condon as Fara: Fern's mom who works as a teacher and undersecretary on At Attin.[5]
Alia Shawkat as the voice of Kh'ymm: An unidentified owl-like alien and map expert with a testy allyship with Jod.
Hala Finley as Hayna: A child soldier in the Troika clan on At Achrann.
Mathieu Kassovitz as General Strix: The leader of the Troika clan on At Achrann and father of Hayna.
Kelly Macdonald as Pokkit: A freelance gun for hire and former partner of Jod's.
Other co-stars
Fred Tatasciore as the voice of Brutus, a Shistavanen member of Jod's pirate crew who led a mutiny against him and took over.[6] Stephen Oyoung serves as the performance artist for Brutus.
Jaleel White as Gunter, a pirate[7][6]
Dale Soules as Chaelt, a pirate[7][6]
Marti Matulis as Vane, a Nikto pirate previously seen on The Mandalorian.[7][6]
Sisa Grey as Kona, a pirate
Dominic Burgess as Beef, a humanoid pirate of indeterminate species
Paloma Garcia-Lee as Melna, a woman on Port Borgo who is concerned about the children's presence there.
Alan Resnick as Tuut Orial, a pirate merchant on Port Borgo.
Anthony Atamanuik as the voice of an unidentified fry cook on Port Borgo. David St. Pierre serves as the performance artist for the unidentified fry cook.
John Gemberling as the voice of a greasy pirate customer on Port Borgo. Dane DiLiegro serves as the performance artist for the greasy pirate customer.
Alfred Molina as the voice of Benjar Pranic, an Ishi Tib pirate. Alexander Ward serves as the performance artist for Benjar Pranic.
Geneva Carr as Nooma, Neel's mother.
Julie Ann Emery as the Hotelier, the manager of the spa and hotel on Lanupa.
Patrick Seitz as the voice of Cthallops, a large unidentified alien patron on Lanupa who helps Jod's group get into Tak Rennod's hidden base.
Jacob Roanhaus as Glerb, a Quarren pirate.
John Hodgman as the voice of Snobbius Snee, a Keteerian pirate. Jasper Anderson serves as the performance artist for Snobbius Snee.
Episodes
No. Title Directed by [8] Written by [9] Original release date [10][11]
1 "This Could Be a Real Adventure" Jon Watts Christopher Ford & Jon Watts December 2, 2024
Somewhere in outer space, Captain Silvo leads a raid on a ship. When no currency can be found, his crew member Brutus incites a mutiny. On the fairly modern planet of At Attin, Wim and his friend Neel prepare to take aptitude exams to determine their future. Wim implies that he wishes he were a Jedi, despite Neel's retort that that would be impossible. Meanwhile, truant students Fern and KB spend most of their time riding a hoverbike around town. When Wim misses the bus, he takes his own bike but falls into a ditch, where he discovers what he thinks is a Jedi temple. He is found by a droid who takes him to school but is subsequently admonished by his workaholic father, Wendle, who tells him that he needs to make up the exam. Wim convinces Neel to visit the "temple" with him, with Fern (who overheard his claim) and KB following as well. The group finds a hatch and enters, only to learn that it is really a long-abandoned spaceship. Wim pushes a button that activates the ship, lifting them away. Wendle watches in horror as the ship takes his son and friends deep into space.
2 "Way, Way Out Past the Barrier" David Lowery Christopher Ford & Jon Watts December 2, 2024
The kids meet the ship's pilot, an aging droid named SM-33 who does not realize that his captain is long gone. Fern convinces him that she is his new captain, and he takes them to a nearby outpost, as At Attin is not on any map. The kids venture through the outpost and accidentally split up, during which Wim uses his "lunch money" to buy food only to learn that his currency is considered very valuable. When he tells the locals that he is from At Attin, everyone laughs as they tell him that "At Attin" is the name of a lost planet that holds a hidden treasure. A gang of pirates try to seize the kids by force to enslave them. SM-33 intervenes and tries to protect the children but is quickly overwhelmed and gunned down. Brutus has the children thrown in the brig. Down there, they meet Silvo, who introduces himself as Jod Na Nawood and reveals that he is Force-sensitive and has some usable knowledge. Wim, believing him to be a Jedi, agrees to work together so they can escape, with Jod offering to take the kids back to their ship as long as he gets to come with them.
3 "Very Interesting, as an Astrogation Problem" David Lowery Christopher Ford & Jon Watts December 10, 2024
On At Attin, Wendle, Fara, Neel's mother Nooma, and KB's parents Maree and Garree are told by a Security Droid that due to the kids going past the barrier, it is out of the jurisdiction of the droids. Jod helps the kids escape the brig, but they refuse to leave without SM-33, forcing him to go back and rescue him as Brendar Pranic identifies Jod as Silvo. They outwit the pirates and flee. Fern refuses to trust Jod, Wim and Neel are convinced that he is a real Jedi, and KB reluctantly admits that he is their only hope of getting home. Jod takes the kids to meet his "friend" Kh'ymm, a map expert that even he doesn't trust. Kh'ymm refers to Jod as "Crimson Jack" before revealing that At Attin is among a series of legendary planets that have protected themselves with a barrier. She prints the coordinates, but Jod realizes that she was stalling for the authorities to arrive and forces the kids to flee. Jod finally admits that he is not a Jedi, but agrees that they must work together to get what they want and escape the authorities to their next destination. X-Wing Commander Kent interrogates Kh'ymm about the group's whereabouts as she quotes "you wouldn't believe me if I told you".
4 "Can't Say I Remember No At Attin" Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert Christopher Ford & Jon Watts December 17, 2024
The crew use Kh'ymm's coordinates to arrive at, what they believe to be, At Attin. The planet turns out to resemble a war torn version of it, and later they learn that they are actually on At Achrann, one of the sister planets. Jod stays on the ship with SM-33 while the kids venture out. They run into soldiers who identify themselves as Troiks who have been at war with the Hattans, who have stolen their Eopies. Neel befriends a young girl soldier named Hayna, whose father General Strix insists that the children be treated like adults. Neel does not take to the violent lifestyle, preferring a more humane approach. The kids are to aid the Troiks in getting their Eopies back, but Jod and SM-33 buy them back from the Hattans. As a reward, they are directed to the "Fallen Sanctum" which resembles the Supervisor's tower on At Attin. The crew find that it contains the coordinates to other similar planets, but At Attin's has been scratched out. SM-33 reveals that he destroyed it, but his memory has been wiped. Fern orders him to remember and he reveals that At Attin is where the former captain hid his treasure. Suddenly, SM-33 attacks the group as part of an order from the previous captain. Jod turns him off and Neel faints after helping to save his friends.
5 "You Have a Lot to Learn About Pirates" Jake Schreier Myung Joh Wesner December 24, 2024
On At Attin, the parents desperately try to send a message beyond the barrier, but this attempt is foiled. Fara admits to Wendle that they have to go behind the Supervisor's back. The Crew manage to restrain SM-33 and alter his programming to prevent him from turning on them. He reveals that the hidden treasure belonged to famed pirate Tak Rennod, meaning that the ship they are on is the Onyx Cinder. SM-33 agrees to take them to his hidden base, which has since been turned into a luxury planet called Lanupa. Jod disguises the children as elders as they arrive on the planet. However, his former partner Pokkit, a freelancer, outs his location to Brutus. With help from the patron Cthallops, the Crew make their way deep into Lanupa's hidden caves, maneuvering through booby traps until they find Rennod's hidden base. They find the coordinates to At Attin and learn that the "treasure" is a mint that creates infinite credits. When Fern reminds Jod of the fair reward he was promised, Jod, desiring the mint, challenges Fern for the captaincy, and with a cutlass to her throat, urges her to yield. Wim, with a lightsaber in hand that he found in the treasure pile, threatens Jod, however, when he activates it he is surprised by its activation and it being held upside down, drops the lightsaber. Fern eventually yields but the children escape when Wim activates a booby trap, dropping them out of sight. Jod picks up the lightsaber that Wim had found and dropped.
6 "Zero Friends Again" Bryce Dallas Howard Myung Joh Wesner December 31, 2024
Jod and SM-33 are captured by the pirates and Pokkit. The pirates take Jod and SM-33 back to Brutus for execution. Meanwhile, the children drop out of Rennod's lair at the bottom of the resort. KB reveals she memorized At Attin's coordinates. A subsequent argument over how to reach the Onyx Cinder results in Fern and Neel trying to ascend the mountain while Wim and KB follows a group of seemingly benevolent trash crabs. Jod manages to earn himself a stay of execution in exchange for the location of At Attin. Midway, KB's cybernetics suffer a malfunction from corrosion, forcing Wim to fix them. Fern and Neel recover the Onyx Cinder and save their friends before they could be eaten by a giant trash crab. Soon, the ship is pinned by a garbage machine, forcing the children to purge the hull, revealing a sleeker ship beneath as they depart Lanupa.
7 TBA Lee Isaac Chung Christopher Ford & Jon Watts January 7, 2025
8 TBA Jon Watts Christopher Ford & Jon Watts January 14, 2025
Production
Development
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.[12] 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.[13][14] 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), the same time period in which The Mandalorian is set, and was described as a "galactic version of classic [Amblin Entertainment] coming-of-age adventure films of the '80s".[15]

Watts initially pitched the series as a film right after the release of his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), but his commitments with Marvel Studios delayed the project until he was finished with his work on Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). This period saw Favreau's creation of The Mandalorian, which influenced Watts's decision to produce the project into a television series, which he would begin upon completion of No Way Home.[16] During Star Wars Celebration at the end of May 2022, the series' title was revealed to be Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.[17] Dave Filoni was serving as an executive producer after doing the same on The Mandalorian and its other spin-off series alongside Favreau.[18] 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".[19][20] 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.[21]

In March 2023, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, as well as David Lowery were revealed to have directed an episode each.[22][23] 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.[4] Colin Wilson also executive produces, with Susan McNamara and John Bartnicki as producers.[24]

Writing
Myung Joh Wesner also serves as writer on the series, alongside Ford and Watts.[9] Skeleton Crew was confirmed to occur within the same time frame as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka,[18] 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".[21] 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.[20]

Design
Louise Mingenbach serves as the costume designer.[25]

Casting
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.[13][14] Casting of the four teenage actors was still underway in May 2022,[15] with Law revealed to be cast in the lead role, reported to be a Force-user, at the end of the month.[17] In April 2023, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong were revealed as the series' lead children,[2][26] with Tunde Adebimpe and Kerry Condon also starring.[26] The next month, Jaleel White revealed that he would appear in the series as a pirate.[7][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
Principal photography had been happening for "a few weeks" by early September 2022,[27] at Manhattan Beach Studios in Los Angeles County,[13] under the working title Grammar Rodeo (a reference to The Simpsons's episode "Bart on the Road").[15] Filming was previously scheduled to take place from June to December.[13] Sean Porter,[28] David Klein, and Paul Hughen served as cinematographers.[29] 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 former painters coming out of retirement to work on the paintings.[30] Lowery said his episode included a member of the Teek species from the television film Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985) who was created using a puppet; Lowery enjoyed the combination of puppetry, which he called "the most ancient technology", and the series' other cutting-edge effects.[31] Filming officially wrapped on January 22, 2023.[32]

Post-production
Andrew S. Eisen serves as an editor on the series. Eisen previously worked on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.[33] John Knoll served as the visual effects supervisor, with Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG, Image Engine, Tippett Studio, BOT VFX, and Cantina Creative providing visual effects.[34]

Music
In November 2024, Mick Giacchino was revealed to have composed the score for the series. His father, Michael Giacchino, previously composed the score for the Star Wars film Rogue One (2016) as well as Watts's Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man films. Mick wanted the main theme for Skeleton Crew to "capture that feeling of being a kid, looking out at the twin suns, and knowing that there's an adventure out there waiting for you". It consists of a simple chord sequence arranged for "harps and synths to create this kind of whimsical floating feeling". Watts associated the opening four chords of the theme with the four main characters.[35] The score was recorded at the Newman Scoring Stage at the Fox Studio Lot.

Marketing
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.[4]

Release
Skeleton Crew premiered on Disney+ on December 2, 2024, with its first two episodes. The other six episodes will be released weekly from December 10 to January 14, 2025.[9][10] A 2023 premiere was first announced at Star Wars Celebration in May 2022,[17] with White expecting the series to be released in November or December of that year.[7] By late 2023, Skeleton Crew was set to be released in 2024,[36][37] with a United States Copyright Office filing for the first episode indicating an approximate release in January.[38] By July 2024, the series was set to premiere on December 3, 2024,[3] before it was moved up a day in November to the December 2 date.[10]

Reception
Viewership
TVision, which uses its Power Score to assess CTV programming performance by factoring in viewership and engagement across over 1,000 apps, estimated that Skeleton Crew was the top-streaming show from December 2–8.[39] JustWatch, a streaming guide with data from over 20 million users worldwide, calculated that it was the sixth most-streamed show in Canada during the same period.[40] TVision later announced that Skeleton Crew was the second most-streamed show from December 9–15.[41] Whip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 25 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, reported that it was the fourth most-streamed original series in the U.S. for the week ending December 8, before rising to third place for the week ending December 22.[42][43]

Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 100 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critic consensus reads, "Evoking childlike wonder, Skeleton Crew is a swashbuckling Star Wars adventure that refreshingly keeps things simple."[44] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series holds a score of 72/100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[45]

Alison Herman of Variety wrote, "Skeleton Crew takes Star Wars to new places only in the literal sense. But the show is able to nail its limited brief, and make a Star Wars show that's actually rooted in childhood rather than evoking memories of one's own."[46] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "The generally low-stakes, thematically light, young-skewing romp takes us into under-explored corners of the seemingly boundless galaxy while feeling pleasantly familiar." Kelly Lawler of USA Today wrote, "What stands out most when watching the series is that it feels so very influenced; it's not just a Star Wars series, it's Star Wars plus something. It's gimmicky and not just a little cookie-cutter in its expansion of the sci-fi franchise, which gets diluted the more shows Disney+ cranks out."[47]

In a mixed review, Ben Travers of IndieWire wrote, "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew gets off to a depressingly familiar start, while bungling the introduction of its primary protagonists and generally plodding along until Jude Law pops up."[48] Zach Handlen of The Boston Globe wrote, "All of these assets are buried under one problem: this is a premise that doesn't know how to be a TV show yet."[49]

References
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External links
Official website
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew at IMDb
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
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Star Wars
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Disney+ original series
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Lucasfilm
Categories: 2020s American drama television series2024 American television series debutsAmerican English-language television showsComing-of-age television showsDisney+ original programmingProductions using StageCraftSpace adventure television seriesStar Wars television seriesTelevision series by LucasfilmTelevision shows filmed in CaliforniaTelevision shows filmed in Los Angeles
Star Wars

Created by George Lucas
Original work Star Wars (1977)[a]
Owner Lucasfilm
Years 1977–present
Print publications
Book(s) List of reference books
Novel(s) List of novels
Short stories See list of novels
Comics List of comics
Comic strip(s) See list of comics
Magazine(s) Star Wars Insider
(1987–present)
Films and television
Film(s) List of films
Television series List of television series
Animated series See list of television series
Television special(s) See list of television series
Television film(s) See list of films
Games
Role-playing List of RPGs
Video game(s) List of video games
Audio
Radio program(s) List of radio dramas
Original music Music
Miscellaneous
Toy(s) Merchandise
Theme park attraction(s) List of attractions
Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film[a] and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe.[b] Star Wars is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

The original 1977 film, retroactively subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope, was followed by the sequels Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), forming the original Star Wars trilogy. Lucas later returned to the series to write and direct a prequel trilogy, consisting of Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). In 2012, Lucas sold his production company to Disney, relinquishing his ownership of the franchise. This led to a sequel trilogy, consisting of Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017), and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

All nine films, collectively referred to as the "Skywalker Saga", were nominated for Academy Awards, with wins going to the first two releases. Together with the theatrical live action "anthology" films Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018), the combined box office revenue of the films equate to over US$10 billion, making Star Wars the third-highest-grossing film franchise of all time.

Premise
The Star Wars franchise depicts the adventures of characters "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away"[2] across multiple fictional eras, in which humans and many species of aliens (often humanoid) co-exist with droids, which may be programmed for personal assistance or battle.[3] Space travel between planets is common due to lightspeed hyperspace technology.[4][5][6] The planets range from wealthy, planet-wide cities to deserts scarcely populated by primitive tribes. Virtually any Earth biome, along with many fictional ones, has its counterpart as a Star Wars planet which, in most cases, teem with sentient and non-sentient alien life.[7] The franchise also makes use of other astronomical objects such as asteroid fields and nebulae.[8][9] Spacecraft range from small starfighters to large capital ships, such as the Star Destroyers, as well as space stations such as the moon-sized Death Stars.[10][11][12] Telecommunication includes two-way audio and audiovisual screens, holographic projections, and hyperspace transmission.[13]

The universe of Star Wars is generally similar to the real universe but its laws of physics are less strict allowing for more imaginative stories.[14] One result of that is a mystical power known as the Force which is described in the original film as "an energy field created by all living things ... [that] binds the galaxy together".[15] The field is depicted as a kind of pantheistic god.[16] Through training and meditation, those whom "the Force is strong with" exhibit various superpowers (such as telekinesis, precognition, telepathy, and manipulation of physical energy);[17] it is believed nothing is impossible for the Force.[18] These superpowers are wielded by two major knightly orders at conflict with each other: the Jedi, peacekeepers of the Galactic Republic who act on the light side of the Force through non-attachment and arbitration, and the Sith, who use the dark side by manipulating fear and aggression.[19][20] While Jedi Knights can be numerous, the Dark Lords of the Sith (or 'Darths') are intended to be limited to two: a master and their apprentice.[21]

The franchise is set against a backdrop of galactic conflict involving republics and empires, such as the evil Galactic Empire.[22] The Jedi and Sith prefer the use of a weapon called the lightsaber, a blade of plasma that can cut through virtually any surface and deflect energy bolts.[23] The rest of the population, as well as renegades and soldiers, use plasma-powered blaster firearms.[24] In the outer reaches of the galaxy, crime syndicates such as the Hutt cartel are dominant.[25] Bounty hunters are often employed by both gangsters and governments, while illicit activities include smuggling and slavery.[25]

The combination of science fiction and fantasy elements makes Star Wars a very universal franchise, capable of telling stories of various genres.[26]

Films
Main article: List of Star Wars films
The Skywalker Saga
Film U.S. release date Directed by Screenplay by Story by Produced by Refs.
Original trilogy: Episodes IV–VI
A New Hope May 25, 1977 George Lucas Gary Kurtz [27][28]
The Empire Strikes Back May 21, 1980 Irvin Kershner Leigh Brackett
and Lawrence Kasdan George Lucas [29][30]
Return of the Jedi May 25, 1983 Richard Marquand Lawrence Kasdan
and George Lucas Howard Kazanjian [31][32]
Prequel trilogy: Episodes I–III
The Phantom Menace May 19, 1999 George Lucas George Lucas George Lucas Rick McCallum [33]
Attack of the Clones May 16, 2002 George Lucas
and Jonathan Hales [34][35]
Revenge of the Sith May 19, 2005 George Lucas [36][37]
Sequel trilogy: Episodes VII–IX
The Force Awakens December 18, 2015 J. J. Abrams Lawrence Kasdan & J. J. Abrams
and Michael Arndt Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk [31][38]
The Last Jedi December 15, 2017 Rian Johnson Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman [39][40]
The Rise of Skywalker December 20, 2019 J. J. Abrams Chris Terrio & J. J. Abrams Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow
and J.J. Abrams & Chris Terrio Kathleen Kennedy, J. J. Abrams and Michelle Rejwan [41][42]

Darth Vader (left), Emperor Palpatine (center), and Luke Skywalker (right)
The Star Wars film series centers around three sets of trilogies, the nine films of which are collectively referred to as the "Skywalker Saga".[43] The saga was produced non-chronologically, beginning in media res with the release of the original trilogy between 1977 and 1983. This was followed by the prequel trilogy, released between 1999 and 2005, and the sequel trilogy, released between 2015 and 2019.[44]

Each trilogy focuses on a generation of the Force-sensitive Skywalker family and their struggle against the evil Sith lord Palpatine (Darth Sidious).[45] The original trilogy depicts the heroic development of Luke Skywalker as a Jedi and his fight against Palpatine's Galactic Empire alongside his sister, Leia.[46] The prequels tell the tragic backstory of their father, Anakin, who is corrupted by Palpatine and becomes Darth Vader.[47] The sequels follow the conflict between Leia's son, Ben Solo, and Luke and Leia's protegé, Rey, and their eventual alliance against Palpatine after the fall of the Empire.[48]

Original trilogy
Main article: Star Wars original trilogy

The original trilogy's main cast includes (from left to right) Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), and David Prowse (Darth Vader).
In 1971, George Lucas wanted to film an adaptation of the Flash Gordon serial, but could not obtain the rights, so he began developing his own space opera.[49][c] After directing American Graffiti (1973), he wrote a two-page synopsis, which 20th Century Fox decided to invest in.[50][51] By 1974, he had expanded the story into the first draft of a screenplay.[52] Fox expected the film would be of limited financial success, and so it was given a relatively low budget, with production being moved to Elstree Studios in England to help save on cost.[53]

Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977, and first subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in the 1979 book The Art of Star Wars.[54] The film's success led Lucas to make it the basis of an elaborate film serial.[55] With the backstory he created for the sequel, Lucas decided that the series would be a trilogy of trilogies.[56] Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was released on May 21, 1980, also achieving wide financial and critical success. The final film in the trilogy, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, was released on May 25, 1983.

Prequel trilogy
Main article: Star Wars prequel trilogy

The prequel trilogy's main cast includes (from left to right) Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Natalie Portman (Padmé Amidala), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker),[d] and Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine).
According to producer Gary Kurtz, loose plans for a prequel trilogy were developed during the outlining of the original two films.[57] In 1980, Lucas confirmed that he had the nine-film series plotted,[58] but due to the stress of producing the original trilogy, he had decided to cancel further sequels by 1981.[59] In 1983, Lucas explained that "There was never a script completed that had the entire story as it exists now ... As the stories unfolded, I would take certain ideas and save them ... I kept taking out all the good parts, and I just kept telling myself I would make other movies someday."[60]

Technical advances in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the ability to create computer-generated imagery (CGI), inspired Lucas to consider that it might be possible to revisit his saga. In 1989, Lucas stated that the prequels would be "unbelievably expensive".[61] In 1992, he acknowledged that he had plans to create the prequel trilogy.[62] A theatrical rerelease of the original trilogy in 1997 "updated" the 20-year-old films with the style of CGI envisioned for the new trilogy.[63]

Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released on May 19, 1999, Episode II: Attack of the Clones on May 16, 2002, and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith on May 19, 2005.[64] The first two films were met with mixed reviews, with the third being received somewhat more positively. Together with the original trilogy, Lucas has referred to the first six episodic films of the franchise as "the tragedy of Darth Vader".[65]

Sequel trilogy
Main article: Star Wars sequel trilogy

The sequel trilogy's main cast includes (from left to right) Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron).
Prior to releasing the original 1977 film, and made possible by its success, Lucas planned "three trilogies of nine films".[56][66] However, he announced to Time in 1978 that he planned "10 sequels".[67] He confirmed that he had outlined the prequels and sequels in 1981.[68] At various stages of development, the sequel trilogy was to focus on the rebuilding of the Republic,[69] the return of Luke as a Jedi Master (a role similar to that of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original trilogy),[66] Luke's sister (not yet determined to be Leia),[57] Han, Leia,[70] R2-D2 and C-3PO.[56][71] However, after beginning work on the prequel trilogy, Lucas insisted that Star Wars was meant to be a six-part series and that there would be no sequel trilogy.[72][73]

Lucas decided to leave the franchise in the hands of other filmmakers, announcing in January 2012 that he would make no more Star Wars films.[74] That October, the Walt Disney Company agreed to buy Lucasfilm and announced that Episode VII would be released in 2015.[75] The co-chairman of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, became president and served as executive producer of new Star Wars feature films.[76] Lucas provided Kennedy his story treatments for the sequels during the 2012 sale,[77] but in 2015 it was revealed Lucas's sequel outline had been discarded.[78][79] The sequel trilogy also meant the end of the Star Wars Expanded Universe stories, which were discarded from canon to give "maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience."[1]

Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released on December 16, 2015, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi on December 13, 2017, and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker on December 18, 2019, in many countries.[e] The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi were both critical and box office successes.[80][81] Episode IX received a mixed reception from critics and audiences.[82]

Standalone films
Film U.S. release date Directed by Screenplay by Story by Produced by Refs.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story December 16, 2016 Gareth Edwards Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy John Knoll and Gary Whitta Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel [83]
Solo: A Star Wars Story May 25, 2018 Ron Howard Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan [84]
Several Star Wars films have been produced separately from the Skywalker Saga. In 2008, Lucasfilm released the animated film The Clone Wars, which is set during the prequel trilogy and serves as the theatrical pilot of the television series of the same name.[85] Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, an "anthology" film series set between the main episodes of the Skywalker Saga entered development in parallel with the production of the sequel trilogy,[86] described by Disney chief financial officer Jay Rasulo as origin stories.[87]

The anthology films' main casts include (from left to right) Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso) and Diego Luna (Cassian Andor) from Rogue One and Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo) and Woody Harrelson (Tobias Beckett) from Solo.
The first film released was 2016's Rogue One, which tells the story of the rebels who steal the plans for the Death Star, the Galactic Empire's superweapon, just before the events of the original Star Wars film.[88][89] A second film, 2018's Solo, tells Han Solo's backstory, set 10 years prior to A New Hope.[90] The series Obi-Wan Kenobi was originally planned as a film, but changed to a miniseries due to Solo underperforming at the box office.[91]

Upcoming films
Film U.S. release date Directed by Screenplay by Story by Produced by Status Refs.
The Mandalorian & Grogu May 22, 2026 Jon Favreau Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni Post-production [92][93]
Untitled New Jedi Order film TBA Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy TBA Kathleen Kennedy Pre-production [94][95]
Untitled Dawn of the Jedi film James Mangold James Mangold and Beau Willimon[96] In development [94]
Untitled New Republic film Dave Filoni Kathleen Kennedy and Jon Favreau [94]
In April 2023, three new Star Wars films were announced to be set within different eras of the franchise.[97] An untitled film written and directed by James Mangold will be set during the "dawn of the Jedi".[97] Dave Filoni will direct a film set between the original and sequel trilogies during the New Republic era, serving as the climax of the various live-action television series that began with The Mandalorian in 2019.[97] Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will direct a third film about a new Jedi Order, set fifteen years after the sequel trilogy.[94][98]

In January 2024, it was announced that Jon Favreau would direct a new Star Wars film, titled The Mandalorian & Grogu.[99] In February of the same year, Bob Iger announced that the film would be the first release of the next slate of Star Wars movies.[100] The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026.[93]

Other potential projects
Lucasfilm has a number of Star Wars films in various stages of developmen