Jude Law is finally joining the beloved galaxy far, far away inStar Wars: Skeleton Crew- and here are the most exciting theories about just who his character could really be. It’s strange how history repeats itself; when Jude Law made his MCU debut as the villainous Yon-Rogg inCaptain Marvel, Marvel Studios originally tried to hide his true identity by pretending he was the superhero Mar-Vell. Six years later,Law is officially joining theStar Warsgalaxy, and his character’s true identity is a mystery.
Officially, Jude Law is playing the part of “Jod Na Nawood,” a keycharacter inStar Wars: Skeleton Crewwho helps a bunch of kids who’ve gotten lost in theStar Warsgalaxy. Although he was initially believed to be a Jedi, the evidence is building that there’s something else going on; he notably doesn’t have a lightsaber (not even with the action figures), and it’s confirmed “Jod Na Nawood” is only one of the names he goes by. So who is Jude Law really playing? Here are six of the most exciting theories…
5Could Jude Law’s Mystery Character Be A Sith?
And how would this fit with Palpatine?
One of the most exciting theories is thatJude Law is playing a secret Sith. This is based on a single shot in which he’s shown looking at some ancient runes - and, many viewers argue, translating them. These runes are recognizably written in an early form of ur-Kittât, the Old Tongue predating the Jedi that was adopted by the Sith for their language. The Old Tongue was forbidden under the Old Republic, meaningthere’s realistically only one group Law’s character could have learned it: from the Sith.
But how would this theory fit into theStar Warstimeline? It’s true that Palpatine never really followed theSith Rule of Two, largely because he considered himself the culmination of the Sith, not bound by their rules. Even in the prequel era, we’ve seen evidence he was grooming Count Dooku at the same time that he was training Darth Maul. He’s known to have been disappointed with Darth Vader after his injuries on Mustafar, so could he have been considering Jod Na Nawood as a replacement?
Alternatively,Jod Na Nawood could well be a Sith Acolyte rather than an apprentice- perhaps even one of Palpatine’s Sith Eternal cultists, introduced inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. If that’s the case, it’s possible Jod Na Nawood is seeking some ancient secret that would helpProject Necromancerbring Palpatine back from the dead. That would meanStar Wars: Skeleton Crewisn’t quite the standalone story Lucasfilm has teased it to be.
This theory seems an outlandish one, although it definitely can’t be ruled out. Questioned about this, Law dodged with as much skill as possible, simply complimentingInverseon doing their research in recognizing ur-Kittât. The prospect of a new Sith Lord inThe Mandalorianera is a thrilling one, and this is surely one of the more exciting ideas.
4Is Jude Law An Order 66 Survivor Who’ll Help Luke Rebuild The Jedi?
Luke Skywalker’s first student?
Star Wars: Skeleton Crewis set five years afterReturn of the Jedi, at a time when Luke Skywalker is rebuilding the Jedi Order. Assuming the firstSkeleton Crewteasers are correct and Law is indeed a Jedi, then it’s telling thathe is emerging at just the right time to help Luke- or potentially become one of his early students. Law could well be anOrder 66survivor who’s been hiding ever since the Clone Wars, perhaps a Padawan whose master sacrifice themselves for him (a familiar pattern).
It’s important to remember thatSkeleton Crewis set in Wild Space, one of the few uncharted parts of the galaxy. This would be an ideal part of space for a Jedi to hide themselves from Darth Vader and theImperial Inquisitors, because the worlds of Wild Space are so remote that reports of a Force user are unlikely to ever reach Coruscant. If this interpretation is correct, then Law is presumably following the Jedi Code and simply helping those in need.
3Could Jude Law Be A Palpatine Clone?
The sheer range ofSkeleton Crewtheories surely underscores just how mysterious Jod Na Nawood really is. Moving away from the idea of his being a Jedi,others have suggested he is in fact an early Palpatine clone. Project Necromancer is known to be at work at the time ofSkeleton Crew, and at least one clone - Rey’s father, Dathan - escaped Exegol. It’s difficult to see how Dathan himself would fit in at this point in the timeline (his story is told in Adam Christopher’sShadow of the Sith), but could this be a different clone?
Could Jod Na Nawood by the canon equivalent of Joruus C’baoth?
Some theories go a step further at this stage, even suggesting Jod Na Nawood’s Palpatine clone could be a vital part of the build-up to a canon version of Timothy Zahn’s “Thrawn trilogy.“The Mandalorianera is clearly headed in this direction, and there an insane clone called Joruus C’baoth worked withGrand Admiral Thrawnagainst the New Republic. Could Jod Na Nawood by the canon equivalent of Joruus C’baoth, destined to play a similar role?
This theory seems to be something of a stretch, and - again -it would essentially meanSkeleton Crew’s entire marketing has been a lie. This story has been sold as a standalone, something that requires no prior knowledge, not the next step in an ongoing narrative. It would need skillful handling to make it work well.
2Is Jude Law “A Whole New Kind Of Jedi”?
And what does that even mean?
Skeleton Crewco-creator said that Jod-Na-Nawood is “a whole new kind of Jedi,” a typically enigmatic comment that’s left many speculating. If Jod Na Nawood is indeed a Jedi, thenhe’s certainly one that Obi-Wan Kenobi would disagree with; he uses a distinctly uncivilized blaster, and has yet to be seen with a lightsaber at all. Frankly, he feels more like a Han Solo character than a Luke Skywalker or Obi-Wan. The prospect of a different kind of Jedi is massively exciting.
But what kind of Jedi could he actually be? It’s possible Jod Na-Nawood is a Wayseeker, a traditional title associated with Jedi of the High Republic and prequel eras. Wayseekers refuse to have anything to do with the Jedi Order as a body, and they do not follow the will of the Jedi Council; rather,they obey the promptings of the Force, going wherever they are needed. They lack the kind of resources typically associated with the Jedi, and so could conceivably wind up lacking lightsabers.
Alternatively,Jod Na Nawood could be tied to the old Jedi Exploration Corps, or ExplorCorps for short. A branch of the Jedi Service Corps, ExplorCorps Jedi traveled the galaxy, seeking out ancient artifacts and involving themselves in local affairs without any direct supervision from the Jedi Council. They dealt with unexpected and unpredictable situations, and swiftly became some of the most experienced and battle-hardened Jedi of all. Some even survived Order 66, because they were in uncharted space and never heard of the Clone Wars. It would make sense for some to be in Wild Space.
1Could Jude Law Be A Former Inquisitor?
What would this theory mean for Star Wars?
Earlier, I mentioned the Imperial Inquisitors.One final theory suggests that Jod Na Nawood is in fact a former Imperial Inquisitor; perhaps a Jedi broken by the dark side, or else one of the many Force-sensitive children kidnapped by the Inquisitors during the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign. The Inquisitors have become a mainstay ofStar Warslore in the Disney era, and it would make sense that Lucasfilm would hide a distinctive Inquisitor lightsaber.
This theory carries very dark undertones indeed. It raises the chilling possibility that Jod Na Nawood believes one of the children who star inSkeleton Crewis in fact Force-sensitive - and thathe’s testing them to decide whether they should be kidnapped as a potential Inquisitor. It’s worth noting that Inquisitors did also seek out ancient artifacts, and some had a passing familiarity with ur-Kittât; Palpatine and Darth Vader strictly rationed their knowledge to prevent them becoming threats, but they knew enough to be able to translate some runes.
Star Warsis all about redemption.
That said, even if the Inquisitor theory is correct, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Jod Na Nawood is still a villain.Star Warsis all about redemption, after all, and Nawood could have abandoned the Empire after the deaths of Palpatine and Darth Vader. This could actually be his redemption story, givingSkeleton Crewthe kind of thematic consistency that would make it a perfect fit for this beloved galaxy. The fact this is even possible shows just how wonderfully secretive Lucasfilm is right now, and how many mysteries still surround the character of Jod Na Nawood.
All these theories, of course, assume that theStar Wars: Skeleton Crewteasers are correct - and that Jude Law’s Jod Na Nawood does indeed have the Force. If he doesn’t, then he could be literally anyone or anything. The only thing that seems certain is thathis true identity will leave viewers amazed, either because it means a lot in canon or is a tremendous deep cut in Legends lore. We won’t have to wait long to find out which is true.
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.
