There’s one thing oddly applicable about the concept, of all of Lucasfilm’s latest output within the “Star Wars” franchise, “Andor” felt like one of many largest underdogs. A spin-off/prequel sequence to the spin-off/prequel film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” centered on a personality who (spoiler alert) died a reasonably definitive demise? This may in all probability be the second the place followers chime in with that well-known line, “By no means inform me the chances.” After all, the Disney+ sequence went on to show any skeptics fallacious and develop into a crucial darling (/Movie very a lot included, as you may see from our unique “Andor” season 1 overview again in 2022), setting an extremely excessive bar for any future sequence to observe in its footsteps.
So, with season 2 set to reach within the not-too-distant future, nicely, go away it to the inventive crew to wish to one way or the other enhance on perfection. You’d have to look far and large round these elements to seek out anybody with a foul factor to say about “Andor,” however creator and showrunner Tony Gilroy is aware of precisely the place season 1 did not dwell as much as expectations. In the latest concern of Empire Journal, the author admitted that he has one remorse that he hopes to set proper this time round … and it is in all probability not what most followers would anticipate. The debut season definitely gained a loyal and passionate fanbase with every episode, making season 2 one of many extra highly-anticipated initiatives but to be launched, however what about amongst extra basic audiences? As he defined:
“I used to be stunned [‘Andor’ season 1] hasn’t translated precisely into widening the viewers for people who find themselves ‘Star Wars’-averse. That, it hasn’t accomplished. That is our purpose this time.”
Tony Gilroy needs Andor season 2 to attraction to followers and casuals alike
By a number of metrics, “Andor” was successful — from widespread crucial acclaim (it is the best-reviewed live-action “Star Wars” challenge ever on Rotten Tomatoes) to Emmy recognition to the extra unquantifiable concept that it was simply, you already know, actually enjoyable to look at — however maybe not in a single hyper-specific space. At the same time as early as the primary few weeks after its preliminary launch, the present’s viewership rankings mirrored stable but unspectacular numbers that raised some troubling questions. Was {that a} case of the slow-burn plot merely taking just a little time to get entering into earnest, or was this proof that diehards have been exhibiting up whereas extra informal followers wanted some severe convincing? Regardless of the reality of it was, Tony Gilroy clearly is not taking any probabilities with season 2.
The truth is, making “Andor” attraction to as broad an viewers as potential was Gilroy’s said intent proper from the start. Earlier than the present ever premiered, the author went out of his method to say that “Andor” was meant as a gateway for brand spanking new followers. Theoretically, no one must be a “Star Wars” professional so as to admire this prequel story. All it’s a must to know is the broad strokes of the Riot and the Empire, together with the truth that that is constructing to the occasions of “Rogue One.” Regardless of the presence of fan-favorite characters like Mon Mothma and Noticed Gerrera (and developing in season 2, Ben Mendelsohn’s Orson Krennic and Alan Tudyk’s Okay-2SO), the writing ensures that their roles make excellent sense for anybody who won’t know that they’ve appeared in previous franchise films and reveals. Examine that to reveals like “The Mandalorian,” “The Ebook of Boba Fett,” and particularly “Ahsoka,” all of which require viewers to place in hours of homework from numerous different properties merely to grasp numerous plot developments and characters.
Fortunately, there’s nonetheless loads of time to unfold the phrase amongst hardcore followers and “Star Wars” skeptics alike, as a result of “Andor” season 2 will arrive on Disney+ on April 22, 2025.