The Goonies’ Director Gave ‘Really Great Advice’ To Jon Watts That Helped Tremendously As He Prepared To Make Skeleton Crew

by

As a seasoned gamer and avid Star Wars fan who has spent countless hours navigating galaxies far, far away, I must say that the upcoming Disney+ series, Skeleton Crew, has piqued my interest like none other. The tantalizing description of this show as “The Goonies in Space” is enough to send shivers down any 80’s kid’s spine (and maybe even some millennials). But what truly intrigues me is the insight we have into the creative process behind it.

When storytellers create new movies or TV shows featuring teenagers embarking on an adventure, they often find themselves compared to the classic film The Goonies, such is the lasting impact of Richard Donner’s treasure-hunt comedy in Hollywood. Consequently, it’s no wonder that the upcoming Star Wars series Skeleton Crew, available from December 3 on Disney+, has been nicknamed “The Goonies In Space”, as it follows a group of four students who are taken on an intergalactic adventure.

It turns out that prior to his passing, Dick Donner, a collaborator on “Skeleton Crew”, had a conversation with Jon Watts. During this discussion, Watts received some extremely beneficial guidance from Donner.

In a chat with SFX Magazine for their latest edition, director Jon Watts discussed the upcoming series titled “Skeleton Crew“. Unlike the complex political drama “Andor“, this show is designed to be entertaining and enjoyable, offering an energetic adventure featuring four kids and the charismatic Jude Law. The success of the show can be attributed to the appealing characters at its core. During his conversation with SFX Magazine, Jon Watts shared insights on the casting process, expressing:

I had fantastic guidance from Dick Donner, who I spent some time with just before his passing [in 2021]. We reminisced about The Goonies, and he shared insights on casting children for roles. He believed that it’s not about casting kids to play a part, but rather allowing them to be themselves naturally. This was evident at the Goonies reunion where everyone remained in their original groups, telling similar jokes, and maintaining the same dynamic as they had when younger. I applied this philosophy during our casting process, focusing on finding the right person for the role instead of just an actor. It meant sifting through countless kids until someone arrived who seemed to embody the character perfectly. This allowed us to tailor the script to their personalities and adjust storylines to accommodate their unique traits. Overall, it was a delightful and fulfilling experience, though undeniably time-consuming.

As a devoted fan, I was thrilled when given the chance to chat with the cast of “Skeleton Crew” about their adventures in the Star Wars universe. It was fascinating to listen to Ravi Cabot-Conyers draw parallels between his character, Wim, and a young Luke Skywalker from “A New Hope,” while Ryan Kiera Armstrong affectionately referred to her character, Fern, as the Han Solo of their band. The most captivating Star Wars tales revolve around such intricate personality dynamics, and this youthful cast truly embodies these elements when they discuss the series.

We’ve been getting ready for “Skeleton Crew,” and we can’t stop talking about how it seems like the ideal series for families to watch during the holidays. It’s filled with warmth, laughter, and simple yet engaging action that appeals to everyone. In fact, it features more robots and creatures than I’ve seen in a Star Wars movie or show in quite a while.

It appears I didn’t elicit Jude Law into disclosing his absolute favorite John Williams score – instead, he narrowed it down to his top three favorites. However, I did successfully generate enthusiasm for the upcoming series “Skeleton Crew“, with two new episodes slated for December 3, followed by one additional episode a week later.

Read More

2024-12-02 19:07