This article contains spoilers for “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” episode 5.
“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” has borrowed ideas from Disney flops, and the series is a massive love letter to the Amblin and countless adventure stories. Needless to say, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford’s foray into the galaxy far, far away wears its influences on its sleeves, and episode 5, “You Have a Lot to Learn About Pirates,” is no different. In fact, it pays homage to a beloved ’80s flick about a group of young friends who set out to find a hidden lair full of treasure — similar to the adventure that takes place in this episode.
“Skeleton Crew” episode 5 sees Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), SM-33 (Nick Frost), and the kids continue their search for the “Star Wars” galaxy’s mysterious At Attin planet. However, they’re forced to make a stop on Lanupa after learning about the infamous pirate Captain Rennod’s hidden treasure lair, which could contain the coordinates needed to find the children’s home world — and spell trouble for them.
That said, fans of ’80s adventure films might be reminded of “The Goonies” after watching episode 5. In addition to the similarities between both stories, the aforementioned pirate’s name is “Donner” spelled backward. This is a reference to “The Goonies” director, the late Richard Donner, who once gave some sound advice to the “Skeleton Crew” creators.
Richard Donner’s advice informed Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Jon Watts and Christopher Ford are masters at telling stories about children in peril. Their “Clown” horror movie tells the story of a dad who wants to feast on youngsters after donning a demonic circus performer costume. “Cop Car” is about kids being hunted by a scary sheriff after they steal his vehicle. “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” meanwhile, is about children forced to navigate the galaxy far, far away and the various dangers within it. During an interview with GamesRadar+, Watts revealed how Richard Donner helped him learn how to tell stories involving children, which he carried into the “Star Wars” universe.
“I got this advice from Richard Donner, who I was lucky enough to hang out with shortly before he died. He was talking about casting ‘The Goonies’ and he said that you don’t cast kids to play a role, you cast kids because of who they are.”
Watts explained that Donner’s advice was on their minds when casting the show’s young heroes — Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) — and it paid off. “Skeleton Crew” boasts some excellent performances from its young cast members, and they wouldn’t seem out of place in a movie like “The Goonies.”
