Summary
AStar Wars: Skeleton Creweaster egg with a Michael Jackson connection has some fans believing the Disney Plus series made a classic but perhaps lesser-known short film canon.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crewepisode 2 found the show’s group of child heroes in a port used by a gang of space pirates. While exploring the area, Kyriana Kratter’s KB stops to pet a caged creature. Well-versed fans recognized the small winged cat-like creature as the same species as Fuzzball, a side-kick character featured in a shortStar Warsfilm that starred the King of Pop: Michael Jackson.
As noted byThe Direct, the short Star Wars filmCaptain EOstarred Jackson as the eponymous captain of a rag-tag Spaceship crew, including Fuzzball. The short film follows Captain EO and his crew when they are sent on a mission to deliver a gift to an evil Supreme Leader. Appropriately, Captain EO uses music (specifically, a song titled “We Are Here to Change the World”) to transform the evil leader into a peaceful ruler. The short was directed byacclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppolaand was screened at Disney theme parks from 1986 to 1998 as part of an attraction with in-theater effects. Regarded by many as one of the first 4D films,Captain EObriefly returned to Disney Parks in 2010 in honor of Jackson following his death.
George Lucas was an executive producer of the shortStar Warsfilm. However,Captain EOwasnever consideredStar Warscanon. Still, Fuzzball’s inclusion ofStar Wars: Skeletonhas fueled the fan theory that the series is a prequel to Jackson’sCaptain EO. This theory may seem outlandish, but there are a couple of elements inStar Wars: Skeleton Crewthat arguably mean it isn’t out of the question.
Theofficial Star Wars databanknames the winged creature inStar Wars: Skeleton CrewFuzzball, suggesting he’s not just the same species as Captain EO’s sidekick but the same character. Secondly, when fans first saw a glimpse of fan-favorite characterNeel inStar Wars: Skeleton Crew, many assumed he was an Ortolan, the blue elephant-like species of Max Reebo. Fans have since learned that Neel and Max Reebo are not the same species, but this only fueled a theory that Neel either is or was inspired by Hooter, one of Captain EO’s crew members who also resembles a blue elephant. Some fans even speculate that Ravi Cabot-Connors' Wim is a young Captain EO, which would effectively makeStar Wars: Skeleton Crewa prequel to the Disney short film.
Showrunner Jon Watts noted thatStar Wars: Skeleton Crewwill feature many easter eggsthat referenceStar Wars Legends, the name given to the franchise content that was de-canonized after Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Does this meanStar Wars: Skeleton Crewwill makeCaptain EOcanon? This seems unlikely, but it’s a fun theory that may add to the enjoyment of an already entertaining series.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crewreleases new episodes of Tuesdays on Disney Plus.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Set in the Star Wars universe, Skeleton Crew follows four young adventurers as they become lost in the galaxy while searching for their home planet. The series chronicles their exploration and encounters with diverse worlds and characters, presenting themes of friendship, discovery, and the quest for belonging.
