'Skeleton Crew' May Have Brought Over A Beloved Character From 'Captain EO'

Star Wars

Dec 10

Star Wars fans with a particularly keen eye may have caught sight of a small, unnamed furry red alien with butterfly wings who is similar to or bears a striking resemblance to an alien that first appeared in Captain EO, a short 3-D film created for Walt Disney World’s EPCOT in the 1980s. The alien is featured in a scene from Episode Two of the latest Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew: Way, Way Out Past the Barrier. In this episode, our young protagonists enter a galactic “port” filled with aliens and exotic creatures, this creature being among them.

In 1986, Walt Disney World, in collaboration with George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and starring the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and Angelica Huston, released a new 3-D short film attraction in EPCOT entitled Captain EO. The 17-minute short featured Jackson as the titular ‘Captain EO’ who, along with a ragtag group of aliens, is charged with saving the galaxy from an evil queen by giving her a song and dance. Captain EO had a pet companion named ‘Fuzzball,’ which sported a similar appearance as the aforementioned alien creature found in Skeleton Crew.

RELATED:

Featured

'Skeleton Crew' Breakdown: What Is Up With At Attin?

Upon comparison, the aliens are not entirely identical. However, they share similar appearances, suggesting that it might not be the same creature, Fuzzball, featured in Skeleton Crew. However, the characteristics of both alien creatures are undeniably similar. Add to that George Lucas’ involvement in Captain EO, as well as Star Wars; it seems even more likely that the similarities between the two characters are intentional, not coincidental.

It has been suggested by some fans that the appearance of “Fuzzball” in the Star Wars universe could somehow officially make Captain EO part of Star Wars canon. Others have suggested that it is simply another “Easter Egg” thrown into the series, which, given the history of the franchise dropping them into movies and series, seems much more likely. Lucasfilm has not yet confirmed nor denied either theory.

READ NEXT:

Featured