Summary
Star Wars: Andorseason two is easily theStar Warsfranchise’s most highly anticipated Disney+ release at the moment, but the stellar season will be a bittersweet experience for fans for a multitude of reasons, and one of those reasons has just been plainly confirmed.
Star Wars: Andorholds the often unflattering distinction of being one ofthe franchise’s most expensive endeavors on Disney+, but almost no one will argue that the series wasn’t well worth the cost. Serving as a prequel toRogue One, which is itself a direct prequel to the events of the originalStar Warstrilogy,Andorwas helmed byRogue Onewriter and uncredited reshoot director Tony Gilroy. Gilroy was given a mandate to stay away from overt references and callbacks in the show, letting it stand on its own as a remarkably grounded and compelling character-focused story. After a successful first season on the streamer,Andorwas renewed for a second (and confirmed to be last) season for Disney+.
Despite doing so well thatAndor’s second season is integral toStar Wars’Disney+ future, Kathleen Kennedy recently cast doubt on whether or not showrunner Tony Gilroy would be returning for other projects within the franchise after the conclusion of the upcoming final installment. While that stance struck many as odd, it’s now clear that Kennedy’s hands are tied on the matter alongside everyone else at Lucasfilm. Speaking toColliderat a preview of the upcoming season ofAndor,Gilroy revealed that he was behind the decision to not return to the franchise for more work following the conclusion ofAndor,and highlighted just how long he’d already given to the franchise. “I’ve been peripherally involved for 10 years and intensely involved for six years,” Gilroy explained, “so that’s a pretty big chunk of my life. There are other things to do. I think when it’s done, I will have left a pretty big piece of Star Wars real estate behind. I’m not feeling guilty about not chipping in.”
Gilroy would have indeed left a large piece of real estate at the franchise when he exits, and what a piece it is. Andor has been able to bring to the small screen the sort ofnuanced perspectives you often only see inStar Warsbooksand other media that’s less emphasized, and has done it while still keeping massive mainstream appeal. With the return of the franchise to the big screen withThe Mandalorian & Grogu,it’s all but guaranteed that any new Disney+Star Warsprojects that get the green light going forward will owe that confidence in part toAndor,much in the same way the first few had the way paved for them byThe Mandalorian.The characters and lore of the series won’t be left alone, either, as the corner of the galaxy that Gilroy carved out will be ripe for adaptations and spinoffs elsewhere, from potential video games to comics to book series all directly or indirectly inspired by his work. When the man says he doesn’t feel guilty about taking a hike, no one can fault him.
Star Wars: Andoris available to stream on Disney+, with the second season set to premiere on Jul 03, 2025.
