Star Wars: Skeleton Crew can repeat Andor’s surprising, yet wholly deserved success. Though not much is currently known about Skeleton Crew’s plot, it will star Jude Law in a key role and take place in the same period of the Star Wars timeline as the Mandoverse. As such, there are plenty of opportunities for crossovers, and The Mandalorian creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have hinted that Skeleton Crew will make full use of those opportunities. And yet, despite its key timeline placement, Skeleton Crew has the potential to become something more unique within the Star Wars franchise – just like Andor.
As a prequel spinoff to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Andor had much less pressure riding on it than some other Star Wars projects. It was an expensive and vast production, but because the fate of its titular character was already known, and most of the show’s cast was introducing new characters into the Star Wars universe, it could flesh out its own tone, its own message, and its own legacy. This was in stark contrast to a project like Obi-Wan Kenobi, for instance, which was burdened by not only the importance of its leading character, but also the pressure to conform to so many major Star Wars installments that had come before.
Skeleton Crew Is An Isolated Star Wars Story (Like Andor)
Despite its placement in the timeline and crossover potential, Skeleton Crew is first and foremost an isolated Star Wars story. Jude Law will be shepherding a group of kids across the vast expanse of the Star Wars galaxy as they try to make their way home. It is not a Jedi vs. Sith story, a Mandalorian story, or a Rebellion tale – it is an adventure at heart, a vehicle with which to explore the intricacies of the galaxy without needing to adhere to other legendary characters and plots. Crossovers can and may happen, but this isn’t a story about characters that have claimed the mythical Darksaber, or a story about a Jedi that survived Order 66.
Andor, just like Skeleton Crew, takes place in a historically significant portion of the Star Wars timeline. While Andor referenced other Rebellion moments throughout its episode, like when it briefly mentioned a Star Wars Rebels-related incident, that didn’t alter or change the course of the story. Andor, above all, told its own narrative with its own characters. Cassian Andor’s life on Ferrix, Luthen Rael’s covert Rebellion operations. Even Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera’s involvement, despite being previously known Star Wars characters, was included in service to Andor’s story, not just the entire Star Wars franchise. Skeleton Crew can take a similar approach.
Skeleton Crew's Tone Can Make It Unique
Of the few things that are currently known about Skeleton Crew, one of the most interesting is that it is billed as an “Amblin-style” series. Skeleton Crew is a coming-of-age Star Wars story, akin to those beloved films from the 1980s like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The Goonies. Amblin-style means adventure, humor, and above all, heart – perfect for a show about four kids just trying to make their way home in the galaxy. Danger will be present given Skeleton Crew’s overlap with the Mandoverse, but it can feel different from any other Star Wars show because it will focus on these characters and their journey alone, as opposed to events that have repercussions for the galaxy at large.
Skeleton Crew Has No Expectations
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, much like Andor, was a surprise announcement. The focus for Star Wars on Disney+ has mostly been on expanding upon the stories, legends, and myths that have already been established. The Mandalorian has evolved into a quest for the fate of Mandalore and an entire culture and civilization. The upcoming Ahsoka show cannot ignore its titular character’s links to the Jedi Order, Anakin Skywalker, and Star Wars Rebels. Obi-Wan Kenobi tried to flesh out the story of one of Star Wars’ most beloved characters while upholding canon as best it could. Skeleton Crew has no such expectations. It’s a new story with a new tone. It can be whatever it wants to be.
Star Wars audiences as such will have no true expectations going in, except for the hope that Skeleton Crew will tell a solid story and have fun with its premise. It’s unlikely to have massive implications for the fate of the galaxy or the future of Star Wars storytelling. In a franchise as big as Star Wars, shows like Skeleton Crew and Andor can be a breath of fresh air, providing true escapism without the worry that a favorite character or storyline will be weighed down by canon. If Skeleton Crew is as well-received as Andor, perhaps more individual stories like this will be in the cards for Star Wars’ future.