Cratinus, an Ubdurian male, shared an identical twin connection with Prashee. These two were known to enjoy games involving chance, frequently exploiting their similar appearances by switching identities during profitable schemes. In the year 34 ABY, both brothers could be found within the walls of Maz Kanata's castle, a pirate haven, located on the planet Takodana. They were seated near a fire pit, engaged in a game and conversation with another alien, before the First Order launched an attack that resulted in the castle's destruction.
Cratinus, an Ubdurian male, was part of a lucrative scam operation with his brother Prashee. Their identical looks allowed them to swap places during scams. They were regulars at Maz Kanata's castle on the planet Takodana, where they often cheated unsuspecting travelers who joined them at the gaming tables. In 34 ABY, they were sitting at a table near a fire pit, playing a game, when Han Solo, a smuggler, entered with Rey, a scavenger, the astromech droid BB-8, and Finn, a defector from the First Order.
Kanata saw Solo enter and called out to him, briefly quieting the room as everyone turned to look. After the initial interest in Solo waned and the room returned to normal, an alien approached the brothers' table and spoke to Prashee. The alien then left, and Cratinus laughed as Prashee moved a small pouch from his side of the table to Cratinus's. Shortly after, many of the castle's occupants rushed outside to witness the destruction of the Hosnian system by the First Order's Starkiller Base superweapon. The military forces of the First Order then attacked and destroyed the castle.
Cratinus and Prashee enjoyed games of chance and were well-known for their gambling and swindling, carefully planning their scams. They had yellow skin and black eyes.
Cratinus wore an Ubdurian traveling smock with a black cloak, a gray hat, and an aurodium belt, an identical outfit to his brother's.
Senior sculptor Luke Fisher designed Cratinus, who was portrayed by creature and droid puppeteer Dee Tails in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, released on December 18, 2015. He wasn't named in the film but was identified in Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary, a reference book by Pablo Hidalgo released the same day.
Tails was initially cast as one of the Hassk triplets, but these roles were given to other actors while Harrison Ford recovered from a leg injury. Creature effects supervisor Neal Scanlan decided to find another role for Tails, and in Abu Dhabi, his team conceived the idea of him playing Prashee's brother. At that time, only Prashee's mask and image existed, which were given to actor Tom Bell, who played Prashee, while Tails was told his mask would arrive soon.
Tails believes Cratinus' mask reflects aspects of his own laugh. When it arrived, the creature effects department stopped work to watch Tails and Bell try on the costumes and practice moving on their knees. Aidan Cook and Paul Kasey then offered performance advice. The pair tried to stay in character during photo shoots and on set to find their range, as they had little time to practice in front of a mirror. During filming, Tails and Bell remained at their table to appear in background shots.
J.J. Abrams once gave Tails a note to turn and look at Harrison Ford, then turn back and say "That's Solo" in broken English, but this scene was cut. Based on his work as Cratinus, Neal Scanlan recommended Tails for the role of the droid K-OHN in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.