After the huge success ofThe Mandalorian, Disney+ is going all in onStar Warsprojects - both films and shows alike. One of the projects that is currently in the works is the seriesAndor, which will follow the Rebel adventures of Cassian Andor, who was introduced inRogue One: A Star Wars Story. The series has been a big investment for Disney+, soStar Warsfans should hope it will see the same kind of success thatThe Mandalorianhas. Only time will tell.
Given the nature of theStar Warsfandom, there are plenty of rumors and false reports being thrown around all the time, so sometimes it is difficult to stay on top of what is and is not really happening. With that in mind, we compiled a list of everything that we definitely know about theAndorseries.
Diego Luna will return as Cassian Andor
Most importantly, Diego Luna will in fact be reprising his role as Cassian Andor in the series (which is fitting given the title). He will portray a younger and more morally grey hero during the early days of the Rebel Alliance. Luna has expressed his excitement for the opportunity, saying, “Going back to theStar Warsuniverse is very special for me. I have so many memories of the great work we did together and the relationships I made throughout the journey. We have a fantastic adventure ahead of us, and this new exciting format will give us the chance to explore this character more deeply.” (Spoiler alert forRogue One) Notably,Cassian Andor died at the end of Rogue One, so it’s probably very exciting to return to a franchise that killed him off. Luna went on to say that we wanted to come back toStar Warsso that he could impress his son. He said, “I’m happy to go back to a galaxy far, far away. It’s a dream come true. I’ll tell you how it felt. I was the coolest dad when I told my kids I was doing that film. When my son, that’s the one that connects the most with this universe, was watching the film he went, ‘My dad is the best!’ Then we die at the end. My son just looked at me… ‘But you died.’ So it’s like, ‘Well, you’re cool but not that cool!’ And now I can tell him I can be back on his top 10 list of coolness.”
Alan Tudyk will not return asK-2SOfor the first season
Originally, Andor’s sidekick K-2SO was believed to return for the series, but Alan Tudyk (who plays the sassy droid) has confirmed that he will not appear in the first season. When asked by Collider if he would appear in the show, Tudyk said, “They’re shooting it right now, I’m not in it. But, if it stays on the air, stories keep getting told, I’ll end up in there.” This certainly implies that the plan is to keepAndorgoing for as long as possible. And with K-2SO being one of the most beloved characters ofRogue One, it only makes sense to bring him back into the franchise eventually.
IsAndoraRogue Oneprequel?
To state the obvious,Andorwill serve as a prequel toRogue One, and it will dive deeper into Cassian’s backstory and motivations. InRogue One, Cassian explained to Jyn Erso that he done regrettable things for the Rebel Alliance, so the show will likely dive into that a bit. MainstreamStar Warsstories have shied away from showing the ugly side of the Rebels (aside from killing millions of stormtroopers, that is), so it will be interesting to see just how far the show will go in its portrayal.
How many episodes isAndor?
Although no official confirmation has been given, the first season ofAndorwill consist of twelve episodes, which will be a slight deviation from previous Disney+ originals. Both seasons ofThe Mandalorianhad eight episodes each, and the Marvel shows have had no more than nine episodes thus far. It is possible that the episodes ofAndorwill be shorter in length in comparison toThe Mandalorian, but that is only pure speculation.
There are plans to make multiple seasonsIf this has not been made obvious yet, Disney+ is currently hoping to make multiple seasons ofAndor, much likeThe Mandalorian. IfAndorgoes back far enough, there is certainly plenty of material that they could cover. Twelve episodes is a lot, but this period of time within theStar Warsuniverse is ripe for endless stories, so it would be smart for Disney+ to utilize it. If the first season ofAndoris successful enough, there will undoubtedly be multiple seasons (as well as the return of K-2SO), soStar Warsfans should watch it if they want to see more.
FilmingAndorbegan in London in December 2020
The show has been under production for about half a year now as filming actually began back in December of last year. Filming is still underway, and there has been no word on when it might wrap up. Additionally, because it is filming in London, there is no indication that it is using the same screen stage asThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett, so practical sets will be used for the show.
Genevieve O’Reilly will reprise her role as Mon Mothma inAndor
Reprising her role fromRogue One(and adeleted scene from Revenge of the Sith), Genevieve O’Reilly has been confirmed to return to theStar Warsuniverse as Mon Mothma, the Rebel commander. This makes sense as Mothma is a central figure to the Rebel Alliance, and she will likely work directly with Cassian in the show. Mothma is also close friends with Leia’s father, Bail Organa (played by Jimmy Smits), but there has been no word on whether he will appear or not.
Shoretroopers will make a re-appearance inAndor
Leaked set photos have confirmed the return of Shoretroopers, which made their debut inRogue One. The brown Stormtroopers were famously the main combatants at the battle on Scarif, so it’s possible there will be a return to the beach planet. However, it could also be that Cassian battles some Shoretroopers at a different location as well.
Cassian will have a slightly different appearance. Set photos revealed that Cassian’s outfit will be a bit different for the show, which is fair considering that it takes place at a different time. In the photos, Cassian dons a more subtle outfit as opposed to his signature bomber jacket inRogue One. He also appears to be more innocent and shaken, which will certainly be of importance to the show. I would expect the show to gradually guide Cassian into the morally gray world of espionage and violence.
Many A-list actors have joined the cast ofAndor
A slew of major A-listers have joined the cast for the show - all of which have not yet been named. First, Stellan Skarsgard (Thor, Chernobyl) joined the cast last year in an undefined role. Later, Adria Arjona (6 Underground, Good Omens), Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, Killing Eve), Denise Gough (The Witchervideo games), and Kyle Soller (101 Dalmation Street) also joined the ever-growing cast. None of the actors have been given public character details, so we can only guess what kind of characters they will be playing. Keep in mind that this will take place during the early days of the reign of the Empire, so these actors will likely be playing either Rebels or allies of the Empire.
Forest Whitaker is rumored to reprise his role as Saw Gerrera inAndor
In a recent interview, Stellan Skarsgard let slip that he worked with Forest Whitaker, who famously played Saw Gerrera inRogue One. Disney+ has not confirmed this report, butForest Whitaker’s return makes sense given his place within Star Warslore. Gerrera first appeared in theClone Warsshow and quickly became a fan favorite, later being recast for a live action version inRogue One. Gerrera is a pivotal character for the Rebel Alliance, and we may see plenty of him in theAndorseries.
Is Ben Mendelsohn as Orson Krennic in theAndorseries?
This is more speculation, but Mendelsohn has been heavily rumored to return in theAndorseries as Director Orson Krennic. He oversaw the construction of the Death Star, so he is an extremely important figure for the Empire. Like Gerrera, Krennic’s return to theStar Warsuniverse would make a lot of sense for a show likeAndor, and we could learn a lot more about his background and motivations. Krennic quickly became a belovedStar Warsvillain whenRogue Onecame out, so bringing him back into the fold would be a smart decision by Disney+.
One deadRogue Onecharacter will returnSome recent set photos confirmed the return of the actor Duncan Pow, who played the Rebel Sergeant Ruescott Melshi inRogue One. Initially, the actor was thought to beAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. alum Nick Blood, but further set photos revealed it to be Pow. His return makes a lot of sense given his history with the Rebel Alliance, and he could potentially get much more screen time in the show. It’s exciting whenStar Warsgives more opportunities to minor characters - like Bail Organa and Mon Mothma. Perhaps Sergeant Melshi will have a much larger role in this project.
