Bryce Dallas Howard Reveals Jude Law’s Role in Creating Star Wars’ First Space Sea Shanty in ‘Skeleton Crew’

‘Star Wars: The Skeleton Crew’ turned out to be an unexpected hit in the community. The show premiered to excellent reviews and audience reception and it kept them for most of its run. While we’re waiting for the next episode to drop, Bryce Dallas Howard decided to comment on episode 6 ‘Zero Friends Again’ which she directed.

Episode 6 sees Jude Law’s character, Jod Na Nawood captured by his old crew and about to be sentenced to death. However, he convinces them to spare him and join him in searching for a great treasure.

To persuade them, he shares a story about a legendary captain, Tak Rennod, and then sings a space sea shanty about Rennod’s adventures. The shanty is so popular that the entire crew joins in, making it the first “space sea shanty” in the Star Wars universe.

It’s one of the most beautiful moments in the show and quite frankly, where you have pirates you also need to have shanties. Now Bryce Dallas Howard revealed that it was Jude Law who turned what was supposed to be a recital into a shanty.

It was originally just a poem, but Law suggested singing it like a pirate shanty, which everyone loved. Howard described Law as a world-class actor and a lovely person, full of energy and encouragement. She said working with him was a joy, and her dad, who worked with Law afterward, was amazed by his talent and positive attitude.

HOWARD: “Tak Rennod soared, away, away…” It was just supposed to be a poem, and Jude came in and he was like, “What do you think if I sang it? If it was a shanty? Because that’s kind of what pirates do, and that’s how the lore carries on.” We were like, “Yes, please. We would like that very much, Jude Law.” [Laughs] So I’m so glad you loved that scene because it was an absolute joy to stage that and to direct that.

Jude Law: world-class actor. One of the greats. Just an astonishingly lovely individual. My dad ended up working with him right afterward, and he goes, “So Jude Law is going to do this. What is he like?” And I said, “Well, get ready. You’re about to die and go to director heaven.” It’s absolutely true. He, as an actor, has a lot of energy and is very engaged. He’s very encouraging. He has a very encouraging, rolling-up-his-sleeves, very intelligent “yes, and…” kind of energy to him.

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She also explained that during filming, repeating the same scene multiple times can drain the energy of the cast, including the supporting artists and pirates. If the energy drops, it affects the performance, especially for Law, who is portraying a character fighting for his life with a complex history.

She emphasized that the scene carries significant weight, with everyone coming from different life paths and situations, which adds depth to the emotional stakes.

Also, it’s a scene where there’s a speech. When you’re shooting it, you’re doing it so many times, and for all of the supporting artists, all the pirates, that can be an exhausting thing, and energy can drop. When energy drops, then it drops for Jude, and then the reality of the scene, you don’t feel it anymore. The reality of the scene is that this man is fighting for his life with all the people he has lived with, worked with, and betrayed. The history is immense. And like you were saying, the circumstances, as well; everyone is coming from different situations. Different kinds of life paths have led them here now.

The episode includes several pirate references, drawing inspiration from classic pirate stories. The shanty about Rennod is likely a nod to “Treasure Island,” where pirates sing a song that holds a clue to the treasure’s location. In “Skeleton Crew,” the song might also contain a clue about the fate of the pirate legend, Rennod.

The episode also brings back the pirate tradition of walking the plank, but in space, it’s done by throwing people out of the airlock. This is a common pirate practice in Star Wars as seen in shows like ‘Clone Wars’ and ‘Rebels.’

‘Skeleton Crew’ truly is a delightful mix of just the right things, and also pirates, who doesn’t like pirates?

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