I’ve been about it since ’82

TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe has been confirmed as being a part of the cast of the new Star Wars series Skeleton Crew.

The role comes as part of a pretty big 2024 for Adebimpe, TV On The Radio recently made a comeback and went on to re-release their debut album ‘Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes’, to mark its 20th anniversary.

On top of that, last month saw them kick off their reunion tour with an opening night at New York’s Webster Hall, before playing three more gigs at the venue and later heading out to Los Angeles for three nights in December and London’s Islington Assembly Hall for another three shows.

Later, they made their NPR Tiny Desk debut, and it was confirmed that the singer had signed a solo deal with Sub Pop, and is slated to release a new album in 2025.

Adebimpe announced the news of the role on his Instagram page, with a carousel post showing his love for the iconic film franchise since the ‘80s.

Been about it since ‘82. Trust. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is ON,” he wrote in the caption, sharing that the first two episodes of the new series are available to watch now. “They’re great. INCREDIBLY psyched to be a part of this show, and very excited for everyone to check it OUT. Huge congrats to all involved, it’s a very special one.”

This is far from the singer’s first acting role too, as he has previously made cameos in indie films like Rachel Getting Married and Jump Tomorrow, as well as taking on a much bigger role in the Lee Isaac Chung-directed film Twisters, which arrived earlier this year.

The synopsis for Skeleton Crew explains that the series “tells the story of four kids searching for their home planet after getting lost in the Star Wars galaxy, and the strange aliens and dangerous places they encounter on their adventure”.

Adebimpe plays a character called Wendle, who is a father to one of the kids (Ravi Cabot-Conyers).

Earlier this week (December 3), NME shared a glowing five-star rating for Skeleton Crew, and described the series as a hybrid of Star Wars and Stranger Things. “As wrung-through with nostalgia as Skeleton Crew is, it still somehow feels like the most polished take on Star Wars we’ve had in a long while, with a mix of old-school craft, blockbuster magic and spunky energy that’s only really ever been topped at the cinema,” it read.

In other Tunde Adebimpe news, TV On The Radio have recently been announced for Kilby Block Party 2025, and will perform alongside the likes of  New Order, Weezer, Beach House, Justice and more.

They’ll also perform at Primavera Sound in Barcelona next summer, and support Khruangbin at their huge outdoor gig at London’s Gunnersbury Park. Visit here for tickets.