The newest peek at Star Wars: Skeleton Crew offers the first glimpse at a surprising TV face as a space pirate! Find out more here!
Star Wars fans are feeling a letdown from The Acolyte, which was canceled after one season after a mixed reaction. But the franchise is going ahead with Skeleton Crew, a new series that promises a more kid-oriented view of the Star Wars universe.
The series, taking place in the same time frame as other Star Wars shows like The Mandalorian, focuses on a quartet of children who are somehow rocketed off their home planet and have to find a way home. They discover an unlikely mentor in Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), who has a mysterious past.
As expected for a Star Wars show, the producers have been tight-lipped on details, but a new peek from Entertainment Weekly has shared more on how this era, following the fall of the Empire and before the rise of the First Order, is a more lawless time and so expect some pirates.
"With the era we're in, we're kind of getting to play with that lawless thing," explained co-showrunner Christopher Ford. "The Empire is gone, and so we're playing with a part of the galaxy that has a resurgence of piracy."
Co-showrunner Jon Watts added that the show was inspired not just by past Star Wars lore on pirates but also the classic LucasArts video game Monkey Island . That game and its sequels put a fun spin on pirate adventures and are among the most loved entries from the game studio. Watts says that between the game and Star Wars history, "I think we found our sweet spot."
The story includes an image of some pirates the kids face. Among them is a familiar face in Vane (Marti Matulis), who clashed with the heroes in The Mandalorian. There are also some wild creatures like Brutus (voiced by Fred Tatasciore and played by performance artist Stephen Oyoung), Pax (performance artist Mike Estes), and Chaelt (Orange is the New Black's Dale Soules).
'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' exclusive photos reveal Jaleel White and a band of space pirates, as show creators explain a 'resurgence of piracy.' https://t.co/uH2KKPxlL3
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) September 18, 2024
But the bigger name among the group is the cyborg Gunter, played by Jaleel White. Yes, as in Steve Urkel from Family Matters. While White has had a good acting career since that 1990s sitcom, he'll forever be remembered as the uber-nerdy Steve causing disasters. Seeing him in the Star Wars universe, especially as a pirate, is going to be a blast.
Expect more details to come, but the sight of Urkel as an alien pirate is one reason Skeleton Crew is going to be a show worth watching.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew premieres Tuesday December 3 on Disney+.