The growing roster ofStar Warsstreaming content will soon be joined bySkeleton Crew, a new series created by Jon Watts, the director of the MCU’sSpider-Mantrilogy, and his regular collaborator Christopher Ford. Although it was initially reported to be set in the High Republic era that Lucasfilm is currently rounding out,Skeleton Crewwill be set in the same post-Return of the Jeditimeframe asThe Mandalorian. Jude Law has been cast in the lead role ofSkeleton Crew, which has been described as a riff onThe Gooniesset in a galaxy far, far away. Due to be released on Disney+ on an unscheduled date in 2023,Skeleton Crewis a coming-of-age adventure about a group of kids embarking on a dangerous quest.
The producers ofSkeleton Crewhave handpicked some truly visionary directors to tackle episodes of the show (viaEmpire). Some really great directors have been tapped to put their stamp onThe Mandalorian, from Rick Famuyiwa to Bryce Dallas Howard to Taika Waititi toMinari’s Lee Isaac Chung. But these directors have always been required to adhere to a certain house style. Occasionally, a director stops by with a unique sense of cinematography, like Ryan Coogler’s go-to director of photography, Rachel Morrison, who helmed “Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore.” But even then, their cinematographic flair is still limited, because theincessant use of the StageCraft technologynecessitates standard coverage and bland lighting. The same problem applied toObi-Wan KenobiandThe Book of Boba Fett.
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But, based on its recent hirings,Skeleton Crewmight be different. The directors who have been confirmed to work onSkeleton Crewhave helmed some of the greatest movies of the past few years – and the common thread between them is their unmistakable cinematic aesthetic. Audiences can’t take their eyes off the worlds that these directors have created. They’re a perfect match for the pulpy, otherworldly settingsoriginated by George Lucas. In the hands of the filmmakers who have been tapped to bring the show to life,Skeleton Crewis shaping up to be the most visually stunningStar Warsstreaming series to date.
The Daniels Will Bring Their Everything Everywhere Magic To A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert are among the filmmakers who are confirmed to have directed an episode ofSkeleton Crew. Collectively known as the Daniels, Kwan and Scheinert recently took home the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay fortheir epic multiversal dramedyEverything Everywhere All at Once. The Daniels broke out with the absurdist gemSwiss Army Man, about a lonely man marooned on an island who stumbles upon a superpowered corpse that can fart him to safety. While its shameless weirdness alienated some critics, the beauty ofSwiss Army Manis that it’s not just a movie about a farting corpse; it’s a real meditation on isolation that happens to include a farting corpse in its telling of that message.
The Daniels didn’t truly become household names until their unprecedented award-winning streak withEverything Everywhere All at Once. The Academy usually ignores science fiction movies, action movies, and comedies, but they gave a boatload of awards toEverything Everywhere All at Once, despite it being all three, because it’s one of the most distinctive movies in recent years. Full of captivating visuals,Everything Everywhere All at Oncestrikes the perfect balance between genre spectacle and human emotion, which is a balance struck bythe very bestStar Warsstories. After seeing what the Daniels did with a trip across the multiverse, it’ll be a joy to see what they do with an adventure across a galaxy far, far away.
The Green Knight’s David Lowery Will Provide Mind-Bending Visuals
Not only have the Daniels been confirmed to direct an episode ofSkeleton Crew; David Lowery is working on the show, too. Lowery has been a widely praised director since his second feature,Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. He went on to helmPete’s Dragon, one of the most critically acclaimedlive-action remakes of a Disney animated classic, proving he can tackle family-friendly fare as well as his usual darkness. Lowery reimaginedPete’s Dragonas a heartwarmingE.T.-style boy-and-his-monster story. He got his real breakthrough withThe Green Knight, a surreal, mind-bending take on a familiar medieval fantasy tale. IfSkeleton Crewhas half the gonzo visuals ofThe Green KnightandEverything Everywhere All at Once, then it’s in very safe hands.
Star Warsfans have cause to be dubious about original stories featuring characters they’ve never met before, soSkeleton Crewisn’t getting as much buzz asAhsokaorthe third season ofThe Mandalorian. But, with visionaries like Lowery and the Daniels at the helm, there is a reason to be excited about this new intergalactic story. Even if the characters aren’t compelling and the story doesn’t grab viewers, the episodes ofSkeleton Crew– at least the ones directed by renowned auteurs – will be gorgeous to look at.
