The secrets behind ‘Skeleton Crew’s’ suburban planet, the first in ‘Star Wars’ history
As a child growing up in the heart of a bustling city, I always yearned for the tranquility and simplicity that suburban life seemed to offer. The idea of wide-open spaces, close-knit communities, and a sense of safety was incredibly appealing to me. However, after reading about At Attin, I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy tinged with a touch of trepidation.
This story contains spoilers for “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” Episode 3.
There’s more to At Attin than meets the eye.
In “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” the serene and structured world introduced isn’t just the suburban homeworld of Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Neel (Robert Timothy Smith), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) and KB (Kyriana Kratter). The third episode unveils that At Attin is a legendary planet, shrouded in mystery and concealed from the galaxy much before the timeline of the original “Star Wars” trilogy and the conflict between the Empire and the Rebellion.
As one of the “treasures” of the ancient Republic, At Attin is known as one of the mysterious and captivating planets that were concealed for their safety. Kh’ymm (portrayed by Alia Shawkat), who was tasked with assisting the children trying to return home, mentions that it is the only one of these planets still intact, since most were destroyed in the past.
Movies
George Lucas’ 1999 Star Wars prequel trilogy, despite the debates it sparked, has proven to be remarkably influential. Shows like ‘The Mandalorian’, ‘Ahsoka’, and their various spinoffs are testament to this, as they have built upon its foundation for over two decades.
Despite “The Mandalorian” taking place within the New Republic era, which follows the original “Star Wars” trilogy, Attin’s beginnings trace back to a time period that extends over several thousand years prior to it.
According to Jon Watts, the chief writer and executive producer of “Skeleton Crew,” alongside Christopher Ford, the current disclosure is merely the beginning. There are numerous small surprises, turns, and plot twists yet to be unveiled throughout the story.
The recently debuted series titled “Skeleton Crew” tells the story of four children who are navigating their journey back home after accidentally boarding an ancient spaceship hidden in their local woods. Along with them, there’s a cranky robot (Nick Frost) they discovered onboard and a shady, Force-skilled character (Jude Law) they encountered at a seedy spaceport filled with scoundrels.
According to Watts, they found appealing the concept of a team of children who are relatively unfamiliar with the ‘Star Wars’ universe finding themselves lost within that very universe. Essentially, these characters are embarking on this adventure for the first time as part of their quest to return home.
In the town of Attin, these particular children call home their place of residence, which features tracts of houses and well-kept gardens. They either cycle or take public transportation to school, and engage with a variety of service robots. Wim, a latchkey kid at Attin, nurtures dreams of embarking on Jedi quests alongside his steadfast companion Neel. Fern, on the other hand, exhibits a streak of rebelliousness, frequently navigating the streets at high speed on her speeder, accompanied by her best friend KB.
As a movie enthusiast, let me rephrase that for you: Not too long after the children venture into space, I start noticing some peculiarities about At Attin. People’s reactions to the planet’s name and Wim’s old-fashioned lunch money suggest that this isn’t your typical celestial body.
Watts and Ford imagined the children’s hometown as a place they longed to escape, not due to it being dystopian or unbearably desolate like Luke Skywalker’s Tatooine or Rey’s Jakku. Instead, they found it lackluster because of its monotonous similarity.
According to Watts, all the houses look similar, they’re safe but also somewhat monotonous, and everyone seems to have ordinary jobs. He compares school to being dull and uninteresting, and no one wants to do their homework. However, he suggests that there is a larger, more exciting adventure waiting out there, and we just haven’t figured out how to find it yet.
As they meticulously planned the home structures and residential areas, what initially started as an urban area gradually evolved into a tranquil suburban setting known as At Attin.
Ford explained, “I aimed for the houses to have a distinctive ‘Star Wars’ vibe.” He added, “We had numerous designs, but we couldn’t truly assess them until we lined them up. And once lined up, their feel transformed dramatically … Arranging them in a row instantly provides an instant read of suburban neighborhoods.
Television
The termination of ‘The Acolyte’ project, while not completely surprising, has cast a shadow over the ‘Star Wars’ series, dimming expectations for its future.
According to production designer Doug Chiang, the “Skeleton Crew” team initially chose a setting that had elements reminiscent of classic Star Wars design, yet subtly altered it.
Chiang clarifies, “The Suburban version of Star Wars is a unique concept we’ve yet to encounter. The reason being, the planet where it takes place was concealed in time, giving it an antique charm.” As a result, they chose to embrace the vintage aesthetic of the original Star Wars from the 1970s and ’80s.
In their discussions, Chiang and production designer Oliver Scholl referenced iconic pop culture references such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) and “The Goonies” (1985). However, they also drew inspiration from less universally familiar locales, like the retrofuturistic city of Brasilia, the unique architecture at an Armenian airport, and the works of architects such as Kenzo Tange and Tadao Ando.
To ensure that the children’s boredom at Attin was central to the narrative, the set designers resisted the temptation to add excessively playful elements.
According to Scholl, “It can’t be overly thrilling, as we aim to convey that this is ordinary,” but with a twist – it’s ordinary in a ‘Star Wars’ kind of way. Therefore, it needs to be engaging, yet also communicate the desire to explore what lies beyond the screen and the sky.
Plus, the design of At Attin had to fit naturally into the ever-expanding world of “Star Wars.”
According to Chiang, designs must resonate with a larger cosmos and be coherent. Much of our work involves understanding the progression of each setting to establish a consistent internal logic for ‘Star Wars’, ensuring everything fits logically within the universe we’re creating.
Essentially, Attin’s design was heavily influenced by urban planning principles. It carefully considered the placement of residences in relation to workplaces, taking into account the convenience of commuting for residents and even factored in the location of nearby water resources.
According to Scholl, one of the fantastic aspects of ‘Star Wars’ is its sense of a “lived-in future.” Instead of being an abstract, sleek, and unrealistic setting, it feels authentic and like it has been around for a long time. It gives you the impression that various generations of children have grown up there, attended school there, and made it their home.
Scholl describes how the central area of At Attin follows a rectangular grid layout, surrounded by suburban areas with a circular pattern. This layout is distinct enough to be identified from above. Furthermore, he subtly suggests that some aspects of the city’s design may hold clues to the larger enigmas surrounding At Attin.
When queried about potential hidden mysteries at Attin, Watts hints that “our decisions were not made without purpose.
As a movie enthusiast, I find myself drawn to the design of At Attin, with its resemblance to suburbia evoking a sense of nostalgia. Yet, in many narratives, suburbs often conceal secrets, and there’s a deliberate intention behind this darker side that we’ve woven into our storytelling.
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2024-12-12 04:32