Andor — out Wednesday on Disney+ Hotstar — in essence, is a spy thriller set in the Star Wars universe. Created by Tony Gilroy, the latest chapter in Lucasfilm’s space opera saga is a prequel to his spin-off film, Rogue One — following the Rebel spy Cassian Andor, five years prior to the 2016 movie. While initially, Gilroy was attached to direct the series, plans were changed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, sidelining him as the creator and head writer of the show.
Despite being titled , Adria Arjona returns in this major Star Wars IP. Bix Caleen is described as an ally to the Rebellion, having had a complicated on-again/off-again relationship with Andor. In an interview, Arjona described that Caleen’s perfect life of managing a salvage yard was interrupted by Andor. “–you can sense that they have a history and their dynamic is complicated. You can almost tell that their trust has been built and broken and built and broken over the course of many, many years,” she added. The pair even recorded Spanish dubs for their characters.
Denise Gough (Under the Banner of Heaven) is billed fifth on the list as Dedra Meero, a high-ranking Imperial officer, who has taken a dislike to Andor. Drawing inspiration from Breaking Bad villain Gustavo Fring’s meticulous nature, Meero is an ambitious advocate for the organisation — looking down on her peers and trying to be “10 times better” than anyone else in the room. To display her prowess to the Imperial Security Bureau, she conjures plans to capture Andor — something her lazy colleagues aren’t keen on doing. “She’s surrounded by lazy, slouching, kind of, corner-cutting boys! And she doesn’t like it,” Gough said in an interview. “So, she’s going to climb the ranks, at whatever cost, to everyone else.”
Denise Gough plays Dedra Meero, a high-ranking Imperial officer
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd
But Meero is not the only obstacle on Andor’s path to success. Syril Karn — played by Kyle Soller — a blue-uniformed Imperial officer is also on the hunt for the rebel spy, though he’s stuck in the very far reaches of the galaxy, where the Empire doesn’t have a big influence. Struggling to make his way up the ranks, he is described as a desperate individual, who sides with the Empire due to his history. “He doesn’t have a father,” Soller told Total Film magazine. “He was raised by his mother, who is sort of the stage mother from hell. He has an extreme sense of need to impress, and fill a hole in himself. And so that really is about ascending to the top of whatever field he’s in.”
Fiona Shaw — best known as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter movies — plays Maarva, the adopted mother of Cassian Andor. Interestingly, her character is displayed in two separate instances of life — the first being the older version who is nearing the end of their lives and working out their values. “Then there’s this younger version of Maarva — of how she came about, how she found Cassian,” she noted in an interview. “–and how she rather beautifully saved him, loved him, brought him up.”
Forest Whitaker (Panic Room) reprises his role as Saw Gerrera, a veteran of the Clone Wars, who is seen teaming up with Rael in the trailer. Meanwhile, Kathryn Hunter (The Tragedy of Macbeth) appears as Eedy Karn, Syril’s mother, and Anton Lesser plays an unnamed Imperial officer.
Syril Karn, played by Kyle Soller, serves as the secondary antagonist to Andor
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd
Andor special look
As part of Disney+ Day, the studio released a special look feature for Andor, ahead of its release on September 21. The nine-minute footage featured a brief interview with showrunner Gilroy and lead Luna, who described the filming process — which is to build a large-scale Star Wars story for the small screen. Gilroy was committed to exploring Andor’s past which led him to become so passionate to end the Empire’s regime. “I wanna see how and what did it take to get there, and how far away could he be?”
But the crux of the special look — out now on Disney+ Hotstar — is some exclusive footage showing Andor’s first meet-up with Rael. The footage begins with Andor handing over a mysterious box to Rael, in a discrete location — which is revealed to be stolen from the Empire. When questioned on how he stole it, Andor casually replies, “You just walk in like you belong. […] To steal from the Empire? What do you need? A uniform, some dirty hands, and an Imperial toolkit.”
Rael then reveals himself to be quite the observer, offering Andor a choice to join him in fighting the Empire. As someone who has trust issues, it is declined, right before a troop of Imperial soldiers raid the location — ultimately transpiring in gunfire and Andor escaping the scene.
Fiona Shaw plays Maarva, the adopted mother of Cassian Andor
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd
Andor synopsis
Here’s the official synopsis for Andor from Disney+:
“Andor,” a spy thriller from Lucasfilm filmed over two 12-episode seasons, takes place five years before the events of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The era featured in “Andor” is filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero. “Andor” presents Star Wars from a different perspective, focusing on everyday people whose lives are affected by the Empire. The decisions they make have real consequences, and the stakes for them—and the galaxy—couldn’t be higher.
Andor trailer
On May 27, Disney+ unveiled a brief teaser for Andor, which set the moody tone for the Star Wars prequel. The warning gong of a bell plays over the footage, as the citizens prepare for the Empire’s arrival on their planet. There’s also a glimpse at young Cassian, a migrant, who grows into a revolutionary — seen climbing through crevices and making way into the Empire’s headquarters. At this point, the series was set to release on August 31, with a two-episode premiere.
The studio then dropped an official trailer on August 1, which functioned as a release date change announcement, while offering some context into the characters. We see Rael asking Andor to join the Rebellion’s cause — as seen in the special look — while the Empire establishes its authority on the citizens. It also features some quick glimpses at the real-world locations the show has been filmed in, before dropping the new September 21 debut date.
At Disney’s D23 Expo, held on September 10, the studio unveiled the final Andor trailer, focused on the power struggle between the Rebellion and the Empire, as matters erupt into war. Meero orders a hunt for Andor, while senator Mothma, conspiring with the rebels, brings up concerns regarding the people’s safety. “Do you realise what you’ve set in motion? People will suffer,” she tells a determined Rael.
Andor reviews
At the time of publishing, there’s no word on when the first reviews are expected. Going by previous Disney+ shows, reviews usually drop a day ahead of release.
Andor season 2?
The first season of Andor — comprising 12 episodes — chronicles one year in the rebel spy’s life. Season 2, however, covers four years, as it jumps across several timelines. “The scale of the show is so huge. Directors work in blocks of three episodes, so we did four blocks [in Season 1] of three episodes each. [For Season 2] we looked and said, ‘Wow, it’d be really interesting if we come back, and we use each block to represent a year’,” Gilroy told Empire. Meaning, that each three-episode segment in season 2 amounts to a year, with the final shot directly segueing into the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Andor season 2, containing another 12 episodes, reportedly begins filming in November — thereby ending his saga and opening ways to the 2016 movie.
Andor poster
Here’s the official poster for Andor from Disney+:
Andor official poster starring Diego Luna in the lead
Photo Credit: Disney+
