Skeleton Crew may trail behind other Star Wars series in viewership, but the enthusiastic response has left creators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford optimistic about its future.
Speaking to Variety, the duo revealed what it was like to work with Lucasfilm, where Jod Na Nawood stands as a Force-user, and how Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau feel about introducing At Attin to the Star Wars galaxy.
When asked how Lucasfilm collaborated with the duo on creating At Attin, which significantly alters Star Wars canon, the duo revealed they were initially hesitant. However, Lucasfilm was "so open to it." Ford explained their reluctance to change Star Wars but mentioned they were encouraged to explore further and told to "make up your own thing." The duo detailed the process behind creating new alien species for the series, where production designer Doug Chiang helped by providing renderings from talented artists, which were used later to help design animatronic suits for aliens on Port Borgo.
Among the show's many contributions to the Star Wars galaxy is Jod Na Nawood, a new Force-sensitive character played by Jude Law. While Jod holds a lightsaber in the series, Ford and Watts are clear on where he stands as a Force-user, revealing that his blade doesn't turn red because "he's not a Sith," and "he was, like, a low level, not a powerful Jedi."
As for why Jod doesn't physically harm the kids at any point, Watts and Ford explained that they never considered having Jod cross that line as "He's like a really, really bad good guy." He's a con man, not a murderer, and he doesn't want to do bad things but believes he has no other choice. However, taking a child's life is not something Jod is capable of.
In terms of the implications of revealing At Attin to the galaxy, that's what Season 2 will focus on, and it has Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau's complete attention. Ford says, "When we first proposed this, I think executive producers Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau and everyone realized, 'Oh, you’re giving us this giant pile of treasure that can be an element in a Star War.'"
Watts and Ford believe the vocal Star Wars fan base's positive reactions will play a major role in Lucasfilm's decision to continue the series, and they're very optimistic about a second season. The potential impact of At Attin and its unlimited treasure on the New Republic timeline is a huge attraction for fans, with everyone speculating on the planet's future. With so much happening during The Mandalorian timeline, At Attin could provide the unpredictable twist to keep Mandoverse fans glued to their screens. Depending on whose hands At Attin's treasure falls into, things could get very interesting for the planet and the galaxy.
Skeleton Crew and its characters, including At Attin, may feature in Dave Filoni's Star Wars crossover film, Ahsoka Season 2, or another unannounced project, so there's much more to look forward to.
Skeleton Crew is streaming on Disney+.