Can you watch Andor if you don’t know much (or anything) about the Star Wars franchise? Executive Producer / Writer / Showrunner Tony Gilroy answers.
Can You Watch Andor Without Knowing Star Wars?
Do you need to know a lot, or anything at all, about Star Wars in order to watch and understand the new Disney+ show Andor? Executive Producer / Writer / Showrunner Tony Gilroy answers this question during the press conference and the short answer is no.
“Our show is designed that this could be your entry point to Star Wars. You could watch our 24 episodes, that could be your way in. We’re doing a show that does not require any prior knowledge whatsoever to get involved. And our hope is, you know, I mean that’s the gamble. Can we satisfy and electrify and excite the dedicated fans?” Tony says.
He also explains that it is no secret the Star Wars community is “enormous, arterial, important, and passionate”, so it was extremely important to give them something they will enjoy. There’s many different version and factions within it, but there’s this huge dedicated Star Wars community that shows up.
“And that’s our whole card. That’s what gave us the money and the momentum and the ability to make a show that’s this insanely big [and]this abundant and this difficult to make. That audience is our primary concern, and we want to bring something to them that is a completely different lane than what they’ve had before, but we’re doing it in a completely uncynical fashion.” – Tony Gilroy
The team behind Andor was sure to make this show real. It is a real place to them and they hope that the fans appreciate the passion and work that went into it. “And can we at the same time bring something that’s so intense emotionally and seems so true and is the smallest domestic dramas and the smallest interpersonal relationships that are dropped down in the midst of the epic tectonic revolutionary historical moments where people have to make huge decisions? Can we attract another audience that’s interested in that as well? Can we marry those two things together? That’s the gamble. That’s what we’re trying to do and that’s why we’re here.”
The main idea of Andor is taking that character from Rogue One and explaining how he got there. We already know where he ends up and how accomplished and complicated he is, but the idea was to take him from his childhood origins (literally) and walk him through a five year odyssey that brings him to that place where we find him during a revolution.
“Look, there are a lot of characters in our show. Everyone is going to be circulating and spinning and intersecting around the Cassian Andor story as we move towards Rogue One. But it’s a potent moment in history. And a lot of people are facing a lot of really difficult times and difficult decisions along the way. And that’s what the show is about, the opportunity to do that on a large scale, on a big canvas, that’s why I’m here.” Tony closes with.
Tune into the first three episodes of Andor on Disney+ September 21st to discover for yourself how Cassian got to where he is in Rogue One.
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About Andor
The “Andor” series will explore a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved.
It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
Andor premieres on Disney+ September 21st with the first three episodes.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.