Star Wars: Skeleton Crew brings fans a perspective of the infamous galaxy far, far away we haven’t seen before–the universe through the eyes of children.

Blavity’s Shadow and Act talked with the cast and crew of the series about what fans can expect and how this series brings a fresh new take on the beloved franchise.

Jude Law, who plays the mysterious anti-hero Jod Na Nawood, said that he grew up watching Star Wars as a child, and the franchise served almost like “an introduction to film.”

“Star Wars sort of reinvented cinema, not just for me, for everyone. And so it sort of sat in me like a part of a formative part of my childhood,” Law said. “And being asked to be a part and also [to play] this wonderful role that’s so kind of mysterious and complicated, and who is he, what’s his real name, is he good, is he bad? To have that in this universe was a really wonderful sort of closure of a full circle. [I] felt like going somewhere familiar. It’s so full of imagination and it’s a wonderful place to play as an actor. It means so much to so many people, so you take it seriously.”

Law added that playing Jod Na Nawood was “very challenging and wonderful,” adding, “I hope we’ve done right by all the universe’s fans.”

Skeleton Crew makes the already-expansive universe feel even bigger since fans will be seeing the world through the eyes of children. The series’ focus on the Star Wars universe from a child’s point of view appealed strongly to Law, who said that this vantage point is what sold him on the project.

“That was absolutely at the heart of why I thought this concept was so strong and so interesting, because, as I said, I was probably seven, eight or something like that when the first [Star Wars film] came out. [I was] maybe 10 when the second one came out and 11 when the third one came out. And so, I saw it through my eyes as a child,” he said. “As a kid you have hope, you have innocence and you have awe and fear. So to make the protagonists children so that they’re seeing all of the world through that is a simple concept, but it’s so strong.”

“I love that they’re real children,” he said of his child co-stars, who play the main characters in the series. “I love that [the characters are] kids with problems and some get on at school, some don’t. They get on with each other [and] they don’t. They’re scared, they’re excited. It’s a really clear and refreshing idea and it’s unique in that it’s like, of course [there are] children in this world.”

“Here’s an interesting perspective too–when I was sort of planning the backstory for Jod, he unfortunately had his childhood sort of taken from him. Something happens and you hear about it eventually,” he said. “And so he treats the children like they’re just little adults and doesn’t kind of understand that they aren’t necessarily capable or experienced and this innocence just feels unfamiliar to him. So you’ve also got that aspect, which I think again, makes for humor, but also, I hope, is entertaining to watch.”

Ravi Cabot-Conyers, who plays main protagonist Wim, also agreed that the series provides “a fresh perspective that we haven’t seen too much in the past [from the] Star Wars, which makes this so special and it’s for anybody.”

“Anybody can enjoy it and get into it,” he said, adding that newer generations would love it, while older generations would be drawn to the ’80s nostalgia reminiscent of The Goonies and Amblin movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Cabot-Conyers also said how Law helped him and the rest of his cast mates as an on-set mentor for them to learn from as young actors.

“He really was a mentor for all of us, I feel like, and his initial choices were always so on point,” he said. “I admire him so much, because not only is he a great mentor, a nice guy and so friendly and so cooperative and comfortable, but he’s also such a great actor…he’s such a generous scene partner, and he’s so giving and he’s generous with the directors. He worked a lot with the directors to make the scenes perfect and spot on and even the slightest tilt of his head would like completely change a shot for the better…I felt that was so admirable and so impressive.”

Cabot-Conyers also feels like viewers of the series will be able to take away several lessons, many of which are already a part of Star Wars‘ main ethos.

“Friendship is key. Friendship, hope. teamwork,” he said. “There’s something for everyone. There really is something for everyone. And that is so special,” he said.

Watch the full interviews below with Law, Cabot-Conyers, fellow cast mates Robert Timothy Smith, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, and creators Christopher Ford and Jon Watts. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew comes is now streaming on Disney+.

Ravi Cabot-Conyers

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