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The Star Wars franchise just got its answer to old-school adventure films like The Goonies. This is the swashbucklin’ first trailer for the limited series Skeleton Crew.
The trailer opens on a young group of kids going about their mundane days (school, riding bikes, etc.) and dreaming of adventures like the Jedi heroes of old.
One day, deep in the woods, they find a derelict spaceship and its defunct pilot droid. While exploring, the ship takes off with the kids inside, launching them to the far corners of the universe. Now, these every day children find themselves lost in an adventure beyond their wildest dreams, and they’ll have to become the heroes they envisioned if they have any chance of making it home.
Skeleton Crew (2024) – source: Disney+
More than anything else, the 1st trailer for Skeleton Crew comes closest to recapturing the wonder that’s slowly been lost in the Star Wars franchise thanks to subpar unimaginative entries in the canon.
While a few familiar creatures are visible, the series’ clueless protagonists led by a rogue Han Solo-type (Jude Law) make for a swashbuckling tone in the vein of an old Errol Flynn film. And after years of moodiness, this tonal shakeup could be just the jolt the franchise needs. While The Mandalorian originally captured a similar “adventurous” feeling, creator Favreau’s commitment to building out that corner of the universe led to an over-bloated cast of characters that fundamentally changed the series’ rhythm.
Skeleton Crew feels like an intentional course correction, as a concept built to run as a week-to-week adventure show. While galaxy-wide conflicts are interesting, fans are hungry for simple showcases of an expansive universe that still seems criminally unexplored. If Skeleton Crew can deliver, it should be an exciting new entry into the Star Wars franchise.
Produced by Jon Watts & Jon Favreau, Skeleton Crew will release on Disney+ worldwide on December 3, 2024. The series stars an ensemble cast led by Jude Law.
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