Star Wars fans have been on tenterhooks in recent months. The legendary franchise has been going through something of an overhaul as Lucasfilm and Disney decide what they want its future to look like. Right now, that future looks like a return to the big screen, which leaves its future on the small screen a little uncertain.
Look no further than The Mandalorian; Disney Plus' first hit series which catapulted star Pedro Pascal into superstardom. After three successful seasons, a planned fourth season was seemingly scrapped in favor of upcoming film The Mandalorian and Grogu. With rumors that its own spinoff Ahsoka may end after season 2, it's unclear what the small screen future of that galaxy so far, far away looks like.
Now, a new update has fans convinced that another Star Wars project has been cancelled. Unfortunately, it might not be that big of a surprise.
Fans convinced Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is cancelled as star joins Buffy The Vampire Slayer reboot
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew star Ryan Kiera Armstrong has officially been cast as the new slayer in Hulu's Buffy The Vampire Slayer revival series, which currently has a pilot order at the streamer. Sarah Michelle Gellar will reprise her iconic role as Buffy Summers and executive produce the project, which will be directed by Eternals' Chloé Zhao. It was Gellar who made the announcement, posting a video of the moment that she revealed to Armstrong that she had been cast.
This is exciting news for the Buffy reboot as Armstrong is a formidable young actress who stole the show in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. She played Fern, who became the captain of the young heroes of the show, helping them find their way back to their home planet At Attin. However, fans are now convinced that her casting here pretty much confirms that the Star Wars show won't return for a second season.
Skeleton Crew premiered on Disney Plus back in December to positive reviews. However, it was subsequently revealed that it was the least-watched Star Wars show on the platform. Moreover, not once throughout its run did Disney release a statement raving about its numbers - something that it did for Marvel shows Agatha All Along and Daredevil: Born Again. Perhaps most notably, the streamer did the same for fellow Star Wars show The Acolyte, which ended up getting cancelled because it was far too expensive to produce.
A number of subsequent reports and rumors have claimed that the show will be - or has already been - quietly cancelled. In spite of its critical success, expectations were higher given the franchise that it belonged to, the budget it likely had, and that Jude Law was leading it. It's quite possible that the mixed response to some of the more recent Star Wars fare and the overall directionless of the franchise since its Disney Plus days began (and its Skywalker Saga concluded) have alienated some of the fanbase. Moreover, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew just hasn't had the visibility that the other Star Wars shows have had.
But again, the one thing that is working for the show is the response to it. A coming of age story set in the Star Wars universe, it focuses on four children as they venture out on a quest into the galaxy so far, far away only to discover that their home planet At Attin is a myth that nobody actually believes exists. That quest leads them to imprisoned pirate Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), who promises to help them get home.
It would be a shame if the reports turn out to be true. Skeleton Crew was a breath of fresh air to watch and, although it functions like a miniseries with a satisfying ending, there was definitely scope for future stories. Here's hoping that it does return at some point down the line.
All that being said, congratulations to Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who delivered a fantastic performance in Skeleton Crew and will no doubt do the same in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer reboot. We can't wait to see it all come together.