'Skeleton Crew' star Jude Law has a soft spot for 'Star Wars': 'It changed my life'

Jude Law’s latest gigs have him on both sides of, well, the law.

In Disney+’s new “Star Wars” series “Skeleton Crew” (first two episodes now streaming, then weekly on Tuesdays), he plays intergalactic rogue Jod Na Nawood, a mystery man who falls in with a crew of youngsters trying to get home in their spaceship. And in the action thriller “The Order” (in theaters Friday), Law stars as an FBI agent doggedly pursuing the leader of a white supremacist terrorist group.

“It's been a very fulfilling run of jobs,” says Law, 51, also a producer of the film. The white-knuckle drama is based on the early 1980s crime spree of charismatic real-life neo-Nazi Bob Matthews (played by Nicholas Hoult) and the law-enforcement agents who worked to stop a dangerous revolution.

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The movie’s “a historical piece that has great relevance to today if you look at the political and social climate globally, the divisive nature, the rise of extremist groups, the threat of domestic terrorism," he says. "Looking back to look forward, that's a really interesting challenge, but also a sweet spot for storytelling," Law next takes on the role of Russian president Vladimir Putin in the political thriller “The Wizard of the Kremlin.”

The British actor discusses his “Star Wars” debut, "The Order" and major goals over Christmas break. (Spoiler: It’s not watching “The Holiday.”)

Question: Was “Star Wars” a big deal for you growing up?

Jude Law: My memory of seeing the first "Star Wars" film is closely linked to my memory of going to the cinema for the first time. I maybe went to see “101 Dalmatians” or “The Rescuers,” and then suddenly there's “Star Wars.” Like anyone who went at that age, it just changed my life, blew me away. And it also began my love affair just with going to the movies, because (of) the impact it can have on you – the music, the effects, creatures. It just triggered my imagination as a child and poured into my kind of playtime, too, as a kid.

So how much of a kick did you get being in a Cantina-like environment around a werewolf pirate and other alien ruffians?

That was the most interesting part for me. I'm building this character, and we are working out how best to play it. And then of course you're in there doing the scene and you're playing opposite a 7-foot guy in an animatronic mask, and this wolf's talking to you. It's like a whole new chapter of acting that you have to learn pretty quick.

Jod gives off a "Han Solo with Force powers" vibe, but not much is revealed early on. What can you tease about him?

He's having to survive in a very messy universe, but it's all about him. I loved the selfishness, and I loved also that in a way, in being a survivor, he's almost like a child. And yet he hasn't had a childhood, so he kind of looks at these kids and they're just little people. It's like, “Why don't they get it? They seem spoiled. Just get on with it and fly the ship and fight that guy.” I quite like that rough love.

Your “Order” character, Terry Husk, also seems like a desperate sort and is an amalgamation of lawmen. How did you approach that differently than with an actual historical figure?

We were able to draw from the real agents who took part in this case. They'd all written books and there were interviews and conversations with them. Because we chose to fictionalize him, we were able also to embellish and really add our own details. We were cherrypicking to compile this guy that best helped the story.

Terry’s really on the edge and is supposed to be getting rest, not going after a criminal conspiracy. In one intense jail scene, he even digs his head into a suspect’s face to get him to talk. Was that a choice you made in the moment?

We really wanted to build a character who clearly had been worn down physically, that his body was sort of breaking down because of the abuse (and) tension. He'd left a sort of wrecked family behind. He was damaged and yet on a noble path. But I like the idea that the audience doubted whether he could see this thing through.

The scene in the cell was not written like that. We liked the idea of unleashing Husk’s frustration at the right time. He simmers for most of the time, but occasionally erupts because it really means something to him and he just can't help it. It's almost like the clock's on. He doesn't know how much longer he's got. It wouldn't be a surprise if he sort of (gasps) feels it in the heart and he's done, he's over, or has one drink too many. He's not got time for this idiot boy to lie to him, who doesn't see the truth.

And it is that time of the year. How do you and your loved ones celebrate the holidays?

We’re a family with quite a few musicians, so we love having singalongs. And I love the communal feeling of singing, but on my own, it would be reading. I’ve been very busy in the last couple years and I've got two small children and I just haven't been able to read. So I'm really looking forward to just sneaking off and reading a couple of books.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Order' lawman Jude Law makes 'Star Wars' debut in 'Skeleton Crew'