Summary
While the alien in the trailer forSkeleton Crewwasn’t a werewolf, there have been werewolves inStar Warsbefore. The newtrailer forSkeleton Crew, which was shared at D23 2024, gave a massive glimpse into what theupcomingStar Warsshowhas in store.Skeleton Crewwill follow a group of children who go out into the galaxy looking for adventure and a forgotten Jedi temple. During the journey, the children will be intercepted by pirates, and theSkeleton Crewtrailer seemingly included a short shot of what appeared to be a werewolf pirate firing a blaster pistol.
That particular pirate wasn’t actually a werewolf, but that isn’t to say there aren’t werewolves at all inStar Wars. Though it’s primarily a science fiction franchise,Star Warsis known to have some unusual creatures and alien races. The “werewolf” seen in the trailer forSkeleton Crewis one such unusual alien species, though it has a surprisingly long history with theStar Warsmovies. That history highlights some of the most exciting things aboutSkeleton Crew, and it even contains an actual werewolf inStar Warslore.
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That “Werewolf” Is Actually A Shistavanen, A 47-Year-Old Species
Though the alien pirate in theSkeleton Crewtrailer looked like a werewolf, they were actually a member of one ofStar Wars' oldest species.The “werewolf” was a Shistavanen, a species that made its debut in the originalStar Wars, which was later retitledA New Hope. The Shistavanen first appeared when Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi entered the Mos Eisley Cantina - he was one of the cantina’s patrons. The Shistavanen only had a short, seconds-long shot inA New Hope, but the future ofStar Warscut the species' first appearance down even further.
Shistavanens only look like werewolves, as the species has wolf-like physical features like claws and fur combined with an upright humanoid frame.
A New Hopefirst released in theaters in 1977. Since then, however, George Lucas released several special editions beginning in 1997 that significantly changed the film. One of the biggest changes Lucas made in the special editions was to the various aliens that could be seen at Mos Eisley Cantina. Many of them were replaced with CGI or more professional-looking aliens, and the Shistavanen was one of the cut species.Skeleton Crewactually marks the return of the Shistavanens, as the species has never appeared on-screen since it was removed fromA New Hope.
Where Have Werewolves Actually Appeared In Star Wars Before?
Though Shistavanens aren’t werewolves, they are connected toStar Wars' version of the shapeshifting monsters from real-world folklore. TheStar WarsLegends short story “Blood Moon” focused on the moon of Lupal, which orbited a star with a core made of kyber crystal. That core had since cracked, and the radiation from the damagedkyber crystal spilled dark side energy onto the moon which was able to turn some species into “werewolves.” The radiation affected “more feral” alien races, like the Shistavanen or the Lasat, most.Since they already looked like werewolves, the Shistavanen who came to Lupal, Kordus Vrak, essentially became one.
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The Shistavanens, while not true werewolves, are still an excitingly odd choice to include inSkeleton Crew. Though the species has appeared more frequently in recent years, particularly duringthe High Republic era, Shistavanens are still a relatively deep-cutStar Warsreference. The fact thatSkeleton Crew’s creators, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, included one in the show is a sign that they have both a deep knowledge of and deep love forStar Warslore and history. Though the “werewolf” Shistavanen only appeared for a few seconds of the trailer forSkeleton Crew, they were an extremely exciting sight.
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.
