Brutus

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Don't you ever want to do anything exciting?

Warning! This page contains spoilers from the episode "We're Gonna Be In So Much Trouble" of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Caution is advised.

"What's a litter of runts doing in my starport?"

―Brutus^[6]

Brutus was a Shistavanen male pirate captain active during the New Republic Era. He was originally the First Mate of the crew led by Captain Silvo, although the pirates fell on hard times under Silvo's leadership. Around 9 ABY, Brutus led a mutiny against the captain following a raid on a merchant freighter that had been carrying a single credit. The Shistavanen took command of the crew, and subsequently travelled to the pirate—controlled asteroid starport Port Borgo. At the starport, Brutus and his pirates captured a group of lost children from the mythical planet At Attin. However, the children escaped aboard the starship Onyx Cinder with the assistance of Silvo, who went by the name Jod Na Nawood, and Brutus had a bounty placed on the former captain.

After Nawood was captured, Brutus oversaw his trial and sentenced him to death by airlock. However, the former captain delayed his fate by revealing that he could grant the pirates the treasure of At Attin. Although Brutus was skeptical, the pirates embarked to the legendary planet, finding it concealed by the treacherous Barrier. When Nawood's claims were seemingly proven false, Brutus intended to execute the former captain once more, but was interrupted by the arrival of the Onyx Cinder, crewed by the children from At Attin. After learning the Onyx Cinder was the key to safe passage through the Barrier, Brutus and the pirates captured the ancient vessel. As Brutus boarded the Onyx Cinder, however, the children used the vessel's cargo lift to seize him. With Brutus trapped in the lift's claw, Nawood shot and killed the Shistavanen with his own blaster, taking command of the crew once again.

Biography[]

Wolf at the door[]

"Good men's lives lost for a single, measly credit?"
"Mutiny, then?"

―Brutus and Silvo^[5]

The Shistavanen^[2] male pirate Brutus served as First Mate^[3] of the crew led by Captain Silvo during the New Republic Era. The crew operated aboard a pirate frigate,^[5] seeking valuable cargo and treasure throughout the galaxy.^[4] Around 9 ABY,^[1] the pirates fell upon several lean cycles, and subsequently some of the crew lost hope in Silvo. During that time, the crew captured and breached a merchant freighter, boarding the vessel as its merchant crew attempted to fend them off. After the other pirates had began to overpower the freighter's crew, Brutus boarded the starship wielding two blasters, firing upon the remaining merchants. Once Brutus had eliminated the last of their foes,^[5] he^[2] called back to Silvo to report their success, stepping aside to allow the captain to enter.^[5]

Brutus accompanied the other pirates to the magnetically sealed vault of the freighter, after which Silvo demanded the vessel's merchant captain to open it. The freighter captain refused, claiming they were protected by the New Republic, and Silvo ordered he be thrown out of the airlock. Brutus affirmed the order as another pirate cut into the vault with an arc welder. Once Silvo kicked down the door to reveal the vault was empty, Brutus shouldered past, picking up and sniffing the single credit within. The Shistavanen berated Silvo for the lives that were lost, and the other pirates drew their blasters on Silvo. The captain acknowledged the mutiny and attempted to fight back as Brutus merely watched, clutching the credit^[5] with a sneering grin.^[2] Brutus's mutiny was ultimately successful, and the Shistavanen succeeded Silvo as captain of the crew.^[6]

Leader of the pack[]

"Don't worry, Captain. We'll get the truth out of 'em."
"See that they don't run off again."

―Gunter and Brutus^[6]

Newly in command, Brutus and the crew embarked to Port Borgo, a pirate-frequented asteroid starport that the Shistavanen laid claim upon.^[6] The crew's former captain was placed into Port Borgo's brig to await trial.^[7] While the pirates were present, a group of children from the legendary planet At Attin—Fern, KB, Neel, and Wim—arrived aboard the starship Onyx Cinder in search of directions to their homeworld, inadvertently entering into a confrontation with the pirates. As the children attempted to flee to their ship with their droid ally SM-33, Brutus approached with a number of the pirates, shooting the droid down with^[6] an ion rifle.^[8] Handing the weapon over to the pirate Chaelt, Brutus demanded to know why the children were in Port Borgo. He questioned the other pirates as to how the intruders knew their coordinates and had evaded their cannons, and the pirate Gunter assured the captain that they would learn the truth. Brutus ordered Gunter to ensure the children did not escape again, turning to leave, but Fern called after him, demanding that he ask them his questions himself. Brutus recognized Fern's attitude, ordering the children to be thrown into the brig before departing.^[6]

Silvo—going by the name Jod Na Nawood—assisted the children in breaking out of the brig. The former captain's escape was eventually discovered, and Brutus had his pirates search the starport and interrogate its denizens. Nawood was later spotted while returning to rescue SM-33, and the pirates pursued him to the Onyx Cinder, which became caught on its fuel line when they attempted to escape. As the Onyx Cinder struggled, Brutus approached the docks, ordering the cannons to fire on the starship. The Shistavanen watched,^[7] glowering^[9] as the tangled fuel line caused several tethered vessels to collide. The Onyx Cinder escaped into hyperspace and broke free of the cable, which lashed back and struck the docks. Debris from the resulting destruction fell directly in front of Brutus,^[7] but the Shistavanen remained unflinching^[9] as he looked upon the scene. Gunter approached to ask whether they should pursue them, and Brutus growled, shoving the other pirate aside. The Shistavanen ordered a bounty to be placed on his former captain as he turned to leave.^[7]

Hungry like the wolf[]

"How long have you been hungry? How long? How long have you been left behind? In the junk heaps of the galaxy fighting over crumbs."
"Enough of this glitter-speech, Silvo. The words of a dead man are worthless."
"Plasma still runs, sir."

―Nawood, speaking to the other pirates, and Brutus^[3]

BrutusAndChaelt — Brutus and Chaelt during Silvo's trial

Brutus was later contacted by the bounty hunter Pokkit, who had encountered Nawood at the Skull Ridge Mountain Hotel & Spa on the planet Lanupa and wished to claim the bounty. He questioned Nawood's location, leading Pokkit to send the coordinates and request payment. Brutus told her that she would receive her reward once the former captain was captured, ordering Pokkit to remain silent on the matter. The Shistavanen dispatched two starships and numerous pirates to Lanupa to hunt down Nawood.^[10] After Nawood was captured by the pirates on Lanupa, they brought him before Brutus, who sat on a throne aboard his frigate. The Shistavanen preceded over the trial of "Silvo," finding his former captain guilty. Brutus sentenced Nawood to death by airlock as the other pirates cheered. However, Chaelt interrupted to raise the point of equal time, as per the Right of Last Appeal of the Pirate's Code. Brutus growled, but the pirate Snobbius Snee declared that the Right of Last Appeal must be honored. The Shistavanen announced equal time and began a plasma hourglass, providing Nawood with an opportunity to speak.^[3]

As Nawood began to speak to the other pirates about their hunger for their take in a galaxy where credits were scarce, Brutus attempted to interrupt his speech, noting that his words meant nothing as a dead man. However, Nawood pointed out that he still had time left, and Brutus watched as the former captain proposed the idea of a place that held an unending reward. Nawood went on to reveal that such a place existed—At Attin, capable of producing endless Old Republic credits—and that he had heard its location from^[3] the legendary pirate^[10] Tak Rennod. Brutus stood and declared that Rennod was dead, but Nawood merely reminded the pirates that he had vanished after plundering At Attin. Nawood claimed that though Brutus made a capable First Mate, loyalty to the Shistavanen would only bring the other pirates a meager reward, promising greater treasure if they allied with him instead. At that moment, the timer ran out, and Gunter and Kona took hold of Nawood and brought him to Brutus. The Shistavanen announced that they would embark to At Attin before pushing Nawood against the airlock door, threatening his fate if there was no treasure to be found.^[3]

On the hunt[]

"This At Attin of yours don't look like a treasure planet to me. Any ship that goes in there will be destroyed. Prepare the airlock."
"How stupid are you, Brutus? If it isn't in front of your face, it doesn't exist? It's a trick, you fools. At Attin's been hidden for hundreds of years. You expect it to be just floating in the open? It's camouflaged!"
"A whole planet? Is that what you came here for, men? More fables?"

―Brutus and Nawood^[11]

Upon arriving at At Attin aboard the frigate, Brutus and his pirates instead found a toxic maelstrom capable of destroying any starship that entered—the Barrier that surrounded the planet. On the bridge, Brutus looked upon the maelstrom before confirming with Chaelt that they were at the correct location. The Shistavanen laughed before taking hold of Nawood and bringing him toward the viewport, doubting the truth of his claims. Brutus ordered the airlock to be prepared, pressing a button to open the door himself. Before the pirates could seize Nawood, the former captain questioned Brutus's intelligence, leading the Shistavanen to stop in his tracks and growl. Nawood insisted that the Barrier was merely a trick to conceal At Attin, but Brutus was skeptical, deriding it as another fable. However, SM-33 backed the former captain's claim with the words of Tak Rennod, and Nawood bet his own life, offering to prove it if given a starfighter to fly into the maelstrom. Brutus took the bet, but declared Nawood would remain where he was, instead intending to dispatch a volunteer, the pirate Glerb.^[11]

From his throne, Brutus watched as Glerb took off in a snub-fighter, ordering the pilot to hurry up when^[11] he^[12] reported in over the comms. As Glerb flew through the storm, Brutus, Nawood, and the other pirates watched his progress on a holographic display, though the pilot was soon killed by the defensive system hidden within the Barrier. Brutus sighed before standing and pushing Nawood into the grip of two other pirates, who dragged him, protesting, into the airlock. The Shistavanen ignored Nawood's attempts to explain and ordered for the airlock to be released, demanding the pirates to hurry or else join their former captain. Nawood's execution, however, was once again delayed by Chaelt, who alerted Brutus to the arrival of the Onyx Cinder, piloted by the children from At Attin. Brutus and the other pirates examined a hologram of the antique vessel, and the Shistavanen ordered for the cannons to shoot it down. However, Nawood identified the Onyx Cinder as the key to passing through the Barrier and reaching At Attin. Brutus growled, but had the frigate capture the Onyx Cinder in its tractor beam.^[11]

Tooth and claw[]

"Last warning. Let us go, or this guy is done for!"
[growls] "Silvo…"

―KB and Brutus, before the latter is shot by Nawood^[11]

As the smaller vessel was dragged into the frigate's hangar, Brutus strode toward it with the other pirates. The Shistavanen declared that Nawood had no further chances, threatening to kill him regardless of whether there was treasure to be found. Nawood argued that the crew loved him, but Brutus claimed that the pirates only cared for plunder. Once the Onyx Cinder's entry ramp was lowered, Brutus stood before it, threatening to enter unless the occupants exited unarmed. Brutus repeated his demand as made his way up the ramp, blaster drawn, but was met with no response. Before Brutus could order the other pirates to board, the children, hiding aboard the vessel, controlled its cargo lift claw to grab hold of the Shistavanen.^[11]

Brutus fired his blaster as the claw raised him into the air, but dropped the weapon as the lift thrashed. KB, speaking in a distorted tone through the comm, demanded the tractor beam's deactivation in exchange for Brutus's release. Nawood, however, took the opportunity to free himself from his shackles, picking up Brutus's fallen blaster. The trapped Shistavanen turned to the former captain and growled his name, but Nawood shot Brutus with his own weapon, killing him. Both Brutus's crew and the children were startled by the Shistavanen's death, and some of the pirates aimed their weapons at Nawood. The former captain declared that Brutus was a traitor, asking whether any of the crew wished to follow him. When none of the pirates challenged him, Nawood took command of the crew once more, intending to seize the treasure of At Attin.^[11]

Personality and traits[]

"Put a bounty on his head. I want him groveling at my feet. And those pups."

―Brutus, regarding Silvo and the children^[7]

As the captain of a band of greedy pirates, Brutus was intimidating and ruthless.^[4] The Shistavanen was dissatisfied by Silvo's leadership, mutinying over the loss of those whom he considered to be good men for a meager reward.^[5] After Nawood's escape, Brutus wished for the former captain—and the children he had assisted—to grovel at his feet.^[7] He believed his former captain to be cowardly.^[10] Although Brutus growled when his trial of Nawood was interrupted by the declaration of equal time, he followed the Pirate's Code and allowed him to speak. Regardless, the Shistavanen scoffed at Nawood's speech, claiming the former captain was dead and that his words were worthless.^[3]

Brutus was doubtful of Nawood's claims about the treasure of At Attin, believing them to be fables. When the other pirates hesitated while executing Nawood, Brutus became impatient and threatened that they would suffer the same fate. After Nawood's execution was delayed yet again, the Shistavanen intended to take the first chance he could to kill the former captain regardless of whether he was right about the treasure. After Brutus's death, Nawood claimed he was merely a backstabbing mutineer.^[11] Brutus possessed black fur, gray skin, and red eyes.^[5] He stood at a height of 1.85 meters tall.^[4]

Skills and abilities[]

"Captain Silvo. The ship is yours."
"Excellent work, Brutus, excellent."

―Brutus and Silvo^[5]

Brutus was able to wield blasters in combat, utilizing two to eliminate a number of foes during the attack on the merchant freighter.^[5]

Equipment[]

Brutus carried at least five different blaster pistol models—three on a bandolier and one holstered at each hip—and wore a black outfit featuring a cape and brown armor pieces.^[5] He utilized an ion blaster rifle against the droid SM-33.^[6] After becoming captain of the crew, Brutus took command of their pirate frigate.^[3]

Behind the scenes[]

"I loved Monkey Island as a kid and I still do, and so getting to do space pirates was something that allowed me to check back in."

―Jon Watts^[13]

Brutus first appeared in the Disney+ live-action series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, voiced by Fred Tatasciore and played by performance artist Stephan Oyoung. The Shistavanen debuted simultaneously in the first two episodes of the series, "This Could Be a Real Adventure"^[5] and "Way, Way Out Past the Barrier,"^[6] released on December 2, 2024.^[14] First revealed in a costume display at D23 unveiled on August 9, 2024,^[15] the character was named in an exclusive reveal in an Entertainment Weekly article published on September 18 of that year.^[16]

Creator Jon Watts noted that featuring space pirates, including Brutus, was a way to reference the classic LucasArts video game Monkey Island, one of the inspirations for the series.^[13] The Shistavanen was one of the characters created by Legacy Effects, whose co-founder J. Alan Scott praised being able to showcase characters and creatures from the original Star Wars series.^[17] Brutus's snarl was created by a team at Skywalker Sound led by supervising sound editor Matthew Wood and sound designer David W. Collins.^[18]