Bryce Dallas Howard will soon return to the Star Wars universe. After directing some episodes of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, the actress-director is set to helm an episode of the upcoming Star Wars series Skeleton Crew. But considering the show aims for a younger audience, with a tone of classic Amblin films, she promises to be mindful.
In an interview with Collider at Fan Expo Boston, Howard confirmed her return to the galaxy far, far away in Skeleton Crew. However, although making a new Star Wars is already exciting for her, what thrills her the most is working with the show’s creators, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, who happen to go to college with her.
“What I'll say is that I'm doing an episode of Skeleton Crew, which I'm super excited about,” she said. “I went to college with Jon Watts and his writing partner in this, Chris Ford. And so, that was very exciting and getting to do that.”
The Spider-Man 3 star continued to share her enthusiasm for this new project and being part of a larger group. She didn’t mind working on someone else’s sandbox, sharing her creative vision, and being the team leader. And as the show is meant for children, she avowed to be sensible.
And I love…again, for the children in the audience, I'll be mindful. I sometimes characterize myself in a professional sense as a dominant-submissive. What that means is that I'm very happy to go and play in someone else's sandbox and be part of a team and to kind of be a vessel for someone else's vision and try to kind of execute their vision with great enthusiasm as if it was my own. And then I also really love to work with a team and be kind of team captain.
In addition, with her love for filmmaking and directing, Howard would love to direct a Star Wars movie one day and have a Star Wars show. However, she knew it took courage, mastery, and humility to helm an epic space opera film. Hence, she had nothing but great admiration for people who had done Star Wars films.
“And so, if I was ever to be brought the opportunity, I would absolutely jump at it,” she revealed. “But I'm incredibly, incredibly, incredibly proud and impressed with everyone who's currently doing that in the Star Wars universe.”
Bryce Dallas Howard Talks About the Making of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Like other Star Wars projects, Skeleton Crew will use extensive practical effects, with the help of legendary figures in the industry, like the king of stop-motion, Phil Tippett, who will give the series old-school feels. So, when asked if Howard got the chance to work with these practical elements, she responded a big yes and talked about the infrastructure that executive producer Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni had built for the show.
“It is very, very, very exciting because kind of the infrastructure that Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have built is allowing for this kind of broadening and truly,” she revealed. “Jon Favreau in particular because he had the relationship with Jon Watts through Spider-Man because Jon Watts directed all the Tom Holland Spider-Mans.”
For starters, Favreau played the role of Happy Hogan in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far from Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. So, considering Watts directed all these films, Favreau knew his fellow director’s great talents and entrusted him with Skeleton Crew. Howard even revealed that Favreau was very hands-on with this project, visiting the set daily.
“I didn't expect that,” she continued. “I didn't expect for Jon Favreau to be there every day, not on his own set, technically.”
Howard discussed Skeleton Crew’s storytelling and added that it had cohesiveness with Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, and Book of Boba Fett. So, as this isn’t the wheel every time, she can’t help but find this move wonderful. And with Tippett in tow, she knew it would be remarkable.
Howards has proven her great talents as a Star Wars show director after directing three episodes of The Mandalorian and an episode of Book of Boba Fett. As she helmed one of the highest-rated episodes of Book of Boba Fett, titled The Return of The Mandalorian, fans can trust that her work for Skeleton Crew will be like no other.
Skeleton Crew is set to premiere on Disney+ later this year.
