Star Wars: Skeleton Crewhas the potential to introduce a thrilling new villain, the Pirate Queen of Wild Space. TheStar Warsgalaxyis a vast one, and the upcomingSkeleton Crewseries will explore a region of space that’s seldom been seen before. “Wild Space” is “off the edge of the map,” andSkeleton Crewwill introduce a group of young adventurers who wander uncharted space as they seek a way home.
AlthoughSkeleton Crewis set at the same time as otherMandalorianera shows (and one upcoming movie),Grand Admiral Thrawnisn’t expected to be the main villain. Rather, the show will focus on a group of pirates - including Marti Matulis' Vane, introduced inThe Mandalorianseason 3. Over and above Vane, though, it looks likely the show will feature a foe drawn straight fromChuck Wendig’sAftermathtrilogy- the Pirate Queen of Wild Space, known to have been active around this time.
Who Is Eleodie Maracavanya, The Pirate Queen Of Wild Space?
A thrilling new villain for the New Republic Era
The first books set during theNew Republic Era, Chuck Wendig’sAftermathtrilogy has proved massively important. They introduced readers to the New Republic, told the story of the Battle of Jakku (now being fleshed out in comics), and introduced characters such as Marshal Cobb Vanth ofThe Mandalorianseason 2 andThe Book of Boba Fettfame.They also introduced Eleodie Maracavanya, the self-styled Pirate Queen of Wild Space.
Hailing from Nar Shaddaa, Eleodie was a non-binary human who was once enslaved by the Galactic Empire but became a pirate. Maracavanya was a capable leader with a keen strategic mind; after the Battle of Endor, zhe successfully took over the Annihilator, an Imperial Super Star Destroyer that had served as the flagship of Grand General Cassio Tagge’s fleet. Zhe used the Super Star Destroyer - now renamed Liberty’s Misrule - as zher portable base of operations, soon establishing a criminal empire across Wild Space.
How Did The Pirate Queen Become So Influential?
She took advantage of the galaxy’s chaos
Wild Space is largely uncharted, meaning it has always been a safe haven for pirates and smugglers - many of whom know the only safe hyperspace routes, and so could easily slip away from Imperial pursuers. Maracavanya took advanage of the power vaccuum created by Palpatine’s death, realizing the Empire and New Republic would continue to wage war against one another, and that it would be a long time before either felt stable enough to police Wild Space again.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew: Cast, Story & Everything We Know
The upcoming live-action TV show, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, looks to be a fascinatingly unique Disney+ show. Here’s what’s known about it so far.
Maracavanya was massively helped by the colossal firepower of a Super Star Destroyer, which meant zher forced could defend themselves from both the Republic and the Empire. Strong enough to be safe, Maracavanya nonetheless knew zhey were low down on the priority list for both Empire and New Republic. Zhey did dream of galactic influence, though; a strategic mastermind, zhey knew peace would result in new pressures for zheir pirates.
Will Eleodie Maracavanya Appear In Star Wars: Skeleton Crew?
The Pirate Queen would be a perfect fit
Space pirates have been something of a background problem inThe Mandalorianera, with criminals taking advantage of galactic chaos to try to make their presence felt on a wider scale.The Mandalorianseason 3 introduced Gorian Shard, a self-styled Pirate King who even tried to conquer the planet Nevarro. Shard is active at the same time as Maracavanya, so it’s entirely possible the Pirate King and Pirate Queen are connected. It’s perhaps significant that Vane is working withSkeleton Crew’s forces, linking the two pirate groups together.
More importantly, though, it’s already been confirmed thatStar Wars: Skeleton Crewtakes place in Wild Space, the very section of space that Eleodie Maracavanya dominated. Even the timelines match up; Maracavanya appears in books set roughly four years beforeSkeleton Crew, and zher fate is unknown, meaning zhey would be a natural fit. Wendig’sAftermathtrilogy has inspired so many elements of this era, and it would be fitting for a powerful, dangerous villain to make zheir live-action debut.
The interesting question is whether Eleodie Maracavanya would remain a villain asThe Mandalorianera continues. There were clearly links between theImperial Remnantand Gorian Shard’s pirates, so there may well be an ongoing partnership of some kind. Maracavanya wouldn’t want the balance of power to tip too decisively in the Empire’s favor, though, so zhey may well shift sides afterStar Wars: Skeleton Crewand work with the New Republic to defeat Grand Admiral Thrawn and his forces.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Cast
Skeleton Crew follows four ordinary children who become lost in the expansive Star Wars galaxy. As they navigate unfamiliar worlds and the challenges they present, the group endeavors to find their way back to their home planet, undertaking a journey across the iconic Star Wars universe.
