Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has officially made its landing on Disney+, and for fans of old-school adventure, it’s something special. Imagine the wonder of E.T. or The Goonies with a Star Wars twist—and you’ve got the feel of this nostalgic new series.
But though there’s no lack of curious children and bizarre beasts, one of the characters is already stealing them all: SM-33, a rusty, one-legged pirate droid played by Nick Frost, with a rat in his head.
For Frost, it wasn’t just another job—it was a childhood fantasy come true. Growing up in a small village in Wales, his childhood was surrounded by all things Star Wars. “It wasn’t just a phase or a summer obsession,” Frost has shared.
“It was my life for ten years.” So when the opportunity came to join the galaxy far, far away, he jumped in with joy—and reverence. “You’re the guardian of something that people hold dear,” he said, fully aware of the weight that comes with joining such a beloved universe.
SM-33 is not your run-of-the-mill droid. He’s dented, pieced back together, and has a literal rodent pulling strings inside his head—a concept so bizarre and brilliant that Frost immediately thought of Ratatouille but with a Star Wars twist. He even admitted to relating to the setup, joking that sometimes it feels like there’s a tiny creature in his brain making him say odd things.
Originally, Frost had given SM-33 the gruff voice of a cranky old man. But over time and several recordings, the character evolved into something more playful, roguish, and surprisingly endearing. “You play around with it, try things, get feedback, and eventually you hit something that just clicks,” Frost said. That evolution paid off, as SM-33 now feels like a fully fleshed-out character-protection when needed, comic relief when warranted, and an unexpected heart of the crew.
What anchors the show is the relationship between SM-33 and the children at the heart of Skeleton Crew. The show doesn’t use its child characters as background chatter-they’re the show’s emotional center.
And SM-33 isn’t merely their robotic sidekick; he’s their friend, their mentor, and sometimes someone who requires their help. Frost tells us he wanted the audience—and the children on screen—to care about the droid so that a two-way bond would form. It is that two-way care that imbues the show with its soul.
Now, SM-33 joins the legacy of Star Wars droids we’ve all come to love—R2-D2, C-3PO, BB-8—but with his own strange, scrappy spin.
A malfunctioning pirate robot with a rat in his head sounds like something pulled from the wildest corner of the galaxy, but thanks to Frost’s layered performance, SM-33 is more than a punchline. He’s a real character with charm, vulnerability, and a heart that hums louder than most.
After all, in a galaxy full of Jedi, bounty hunters, and space combat, it’s usually the most unlikely heroes who make the most impact. SM-33 could well be one of them.