Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy has admitted that although he enjoyed The Mandalorian, he never watched the series to its conclusion. Gilroy explained that the timing of The Mandalorian within the Star Wars universe made it difficult for him to continue viewing while working on Andor, which is set earlier in the timeline.
The Challenge of Maintaining Creative Focus Across Different Story Periods
Gilroy shared on The Ringer-Verse podcast that stepping outside his dedicated five-year period in the Star Wars timeline felt disorienting.
“It was very disorienting for me to step outside my five year period. If I went backwards and looked at stuff, if I went forward and looked at stuff. I started watching Mandalorian in the beginning, but then I couldn’t watch anymore, because, as cool as it was, I loved it, it made me – I lost my frequency,”
he said. He also noted that knowing future events beyond his show‘s era was unhelpful.
“I didn’t find it helpful to know what was gonna happen after so much… I definitely siloed my period off to make it work, as a defence mechanism I suppose, as much as anything.”
This separation helped him maintain creative clarity.
The Critical Acclaim of Andor and Lucasfilm’s Expanding Star Wars Projects
While Andor has become the most critically praised live-action Star Wars series, it notably missed out on several acting Emmy nominations. Gilroy addressed rumors of controversy between Andor and other shows, saying,
“It’s driven us crazy on the show, every time people, the clickbait, trying to draw controversy between us and the other shows.”
He emphasized the importance of originality in storytelling, adding,
“By the same token, it would be very wrong to come in and try to slavishly reproduce [Andor].”
Gilroy also revealed that Lucasfilm is currently developing some “really unusual” new Star Wars projects, encouraging creators to embrace unique ideas.
Upcoming Star Wars Releases and Future Expectations
The next major Star Wars release will feature The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s first big screen adventure. Following that, the theatrical movie Star Wars: Starfighter is in production in the UK, starring Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Amy Adams, with Shawn Levy directing. Fans can also anticipate the second season of Ahsoka, though its release date remains unconfirmed. These projects signal that Lucasfilm continues to expand the Star Wars universe across multiple formats and timelines.
Looking Ahead to the Star Wars Universe
Gilroy’s experience highlights the complexity of working within the expansive Star Wars chronology, especially when multiple series and films are in development concurrently. His decision to stop watching The Mandalorian early reflects a need to protect the creative vision of Andor. With Lucasfilm’s commitment to unique storytelling and upcoming releases, fans can expect a diverse range of stories that explore new facets of the galaxy far, far away.
