Creator Tony Gilroy has expressed a somber view on the striking similarities between the political themes in the Star Wars series Andor and current global events. Speaking in a recent Hollywood Reporter interview, Gilroy reflected on how these parallels have become increasingly unsettling over the years. The show’s focus on resistance against an authoritarian regime echoes troubling developments in today’s world, making the themes more poignant and, at times, painful to witness.
Star Wars’ Legacy of Political Reflection and Its Evolution in Andor
George Lucas originally designed the Star Wars saga with recurring patterns, describing it as poetic rhymes that link stories across timelines. The prequel trilogy notably served as a cautionary tale about how fascism can undermine democracy. Andor has taken this legacy further by drawing sharper analogies to modern political struggles against oppression. Gilroy, a dedicated history enthusiast, used his lifelong passion for history to deepen the show‘s narrative. However, as time passed, he has become increasingly troubled by how closely the show’s fictional events mirror real-world politics.
Growing Unease as Fiction Reflects Reality with Disturbing Accuracy
Gilroy noted that when they first began producing Andor in 2019, the parallels between the fictional Empire and the state of global affairs were already evident. Over the course of six years working on the show, he observed these similarities growing stronger and more alarming. He specifically pointed to a scene in the series where a senator is abruptly removed from a meeting, which resonated chillingly with a real incident involving Senator Padilla and ICE. This connection sparked conversations within the production group, highlighting how deeply reality and the show’s storyline now intersect.
“When Senator Padilla was pulled out of the ICE meeting, like in the episode about the Ghorman senator being pulled out, there was a big text chain in our group, like, ‘Oh my God. It looked like the show.’ It’s very sad for us how much it rhymes.” —Tony Gilroy, Creator of Andor
“Very sad for us how much it rhymes.” —Tony Gilroy, Creator of Andor
“The parallels between what was happening in the world and what was happening in the galaxy and the Empire — those were already obvious.” —Tony Gilroy, Creator of Andor
“Over the six years we’ve been doing the show, that little monster got on its feet and learned how to run.” —Tony Gilroy, Creator of Andor
The Impact of Political Realism on the Star Wars Universe
These unsettling reflections reveal the challenge of separating storytelling from real-world politics in the Star Wars universe, especially for creators like Gilroy who deeply engage with history. The increasingly vivid echoes between Andor’s narrative and contemporary events not only emphasize the show’s relevance but also the persistent dangers of autocratic power. Gilroy’s experience illustrates how fiction can sometimes become a mirror to society’s darkest trends, serving as both a warning and a source of uneasy recognition.
