What if Andor had never seen the light of day? This was to be feared according to showrunner Tony Gilroy, who owes the salvation of his series to another Star Wars project.
The best Star Wars series arrives on April 22
After an excellent first season, Andor is preparing to make its big comeback on April 22, 2025. Cassian, Luthen Rael, and Mon Mothma will return to action to stop the Empire's cogs. To narrate this second act, director Tony Gilroy will divide the series into four acts, themselves divided into cycles of three episodes. This will give a somewhat unusual rhythm to a broadcast of three episodes per week (i.e., a full act). A bold division that should allow the series to be linked to the events of Rogue One, which takes place afterward and features some similar characters. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), but also Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), and newcomer Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), the next antagonist of this season 2.
Andor can thank The Mandalorian
In the midst of promoting his series, Tony Gilroy spoke about its success to Empire magazine, and took the opportunity to admit that it probably would not have seen the light of day without another Star Wars production: The Mandalorian.
The success of The Mandalorian gave us the starting signal. Their success is what would fuel the entire project. Well, no Baby Yoda, no Andor... seriously."
Indeed, the release of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni's series in 2019 paved the way for all the other live-action productions in the franchise.The Book of Boba Fett in 2021, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor the following year, Ahsoka in 2023, and finally The Acolyte in 2024 (which was ultimately canceled). The immense success (both critical and public) of The Mandalorian on Disney+ confirmed that there was a real a growing market for live-action series on the small screen.
"Bob Iger (Disney boss), Kathleen Kennedy (LucasFilm president) and the public protected us," Tony Gilroy maintains in his interview. With the success of The Mandalorian, Disney+ has become the launch pad for Star Wars series, considered the streaming platform's showcase. All of this, supported by Kathleen Kennedy, strategic decision-maker and project supervisor. The one who presses the green button, or conversely, the red one.
Yet, Andor is unlike any other series in the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Less flashy, less epic, and without the franchise's totemic figures, it has nevertheless found its audience with its mature and realistic tone, its ambitious narrative, and its superb artistic direction. So much so that it is considered by critics to be the best Star Wars series to date. Season 2 is even full of promise with this tragic event that will be depicted.
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