Andor, the Disney Plus prequel to Rogue One, chronicles the rise of Cassian Andor from a detached thief to a key figure in the rebellion against a totalitarian Empire. Since the conclusion of its second and final season, both fans and media have noted striking parallels between the show‘s storyline and contemporary political events. With showrunner Tony Gilroy transitioning to new projects, he has spoken candidly in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about the political themes that inspired the series and their unintended resonance with today’s world.
Gilroy emphasized that the series was designed as a broad examination of authoritarianism’s effects on society, framed within the Star Wars universe’s known depiction of the Empire’s oppressive regime during the era prior to the Original Trilogy.
The Intent Behind Andor’s Political Narrative
Tony Gilroy revealed that the creative team intentionally focused on the nature of fascism and authoritarianism to craft the story of Andor, utilizing the Empire as an emblematic backdrop. He likened their approach to consulting a “Fascism for Dummies” guide, aiming to incorporate as many classic signs and tactics of oppressive regimes as possible in an artistic and meaningful way.
“We were pretty much doing a story about authoritarianism and fascism, and the Empire is very clearly a great example of that. It’s a great place to deal with those issues, and as we’ve discussed many times before, we had this wide open canvas to deal with it.So you get out your Fascism for Dummies book for the 15 things you do, and we tried to include as many of them as we could in the most artful way possible. How were we supposed to know that this clown car in Washington was going to basically use the same book that we used? So I don’t think it’s prescience so much as the sad familiarity of fascism and the karaoke menu of things that you go through to do it. You could list them from the show, or you could list them from the newspaper.”
Gilroy explained that the show’s depiction of authoritarianism was influenced more by historical patterns than any intent to predict future events, expressing sorrow about the uncanny similarities between the series’ plot and real-world developments.
Real-World Parallels Reflected in Andor’s Storyline
In reflecting on specific plot elements, Gilroy cited the fictional location Ghorman as a stand-in for any territory or nation targeted for valuable resources, drawing a direct link between the show’s narrative and ongoing geopolitical struggles.
“Ghorman is Greenland. Ghorman is anything. ‘We want the rare earth, we want this.’ It really is just a crude laundry list of moves that they have, and my earlier answer stands for the way it rhymes with the show.”
This blunt comparison highlights how Andor embodies a composite of current political tactics and historical cycles of exploitation, reinforcing the perpetual relevance of the story’s themes.
The Diverse Leadership Within Andor’s Revolution
Tony Gilroy described the varied types of leaders portrayed in Andor, from public figures like Mon Mothma to quieter, behind-the-scenes influencers such as Kleya Marki. He identified these characters as embodying qualities he admires and believes are essential in real-world leaders today: curiosity, empathy, problem-solving skills, and effective communication.
“To be an effective leader, you have to have both skill sets. You have to be a problem solver who’s curious, empathetic, progressive, involved and sophisticated. That includes a pretty wide ideological spectrum, from center, center-left and center-right. I respond to people that are empathetic technocrats in a way. I really like proper problem solving, and I don’t really like doctrinaire ideological answers.Beyond all that, I yearn for storytellers, and I yearn for people that communicate. I’m always frustrated by politicians that I really like when they can’t get their messages out.”
Gilroy’s remarks underscore his preference for pragmatic, open-minded leaders who can adapt and resonate with a spectrum of ideologies, rejecting rigid dogma in favor of empathy and effective dialogue.
The Emotional Weight of Cassian Andor’s Detention Story
The series includes Cassian’s imprisonment on Narkina 5, which Gilroy acknowledged has drawn comparisons to contemporary immigration detention centers such as those operated by ICE in the United States. He shared his sadness over this connection, reaffirming the importance of telling stories that reveal the human costs of authoritarian policies.
“We’re proud of the show. God, we’re proud of the show. That’s our sustaining takeaway. We were stunned [about the prescience] for a while, but we’ve really gotten to the point where it’s really sad. It’s just sad how predictable and lame and obvious and wrong it all is. Fascism is just a total fail in the end. It eats itself up in the end.”
This sentiment reveals how the series functions both as an artistic achievement and a somber commentary on the cyclical nature of political oppression.
Maintaining Neutrality During Production
During the show’s development and promotion, Gilroy chose to avoid engaging publicly with current political debates. He explained this decision was motivated by respect for the diverse political views held by cast and crew members, and a desire to focus on historical parallels rather than contemporary partisanship.
“The actors have a broad spectrum of political ideas, and we didn’t want anybody to perjure themselves or violate their conscience. So we came up with a legit historical model. It was a very, very safe and legitimate place for us to sell the show without ever having to say what I’m free to say now.”
This strategy provided a protective and inclusive environment for everyone involved while allowing the story to speak for itself independent of real-world political affiliations.
Relations with Key Figures in the Star Wars Franchise
Tony Gilroy spoke positively about Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, praising her role in supporting Andor’s creation. Although Kennedy recently departed, Gilroy refrained from commenting on her critiques of Disney’s risk appetite, noting that as a creator, he does not have to manage such challenges.
Regarding rumors about Dave Filoni’s opinions on the series, Gilroy dismissed claims of tension, highlighting their few but cordial interactions and deep respect for Filoni’s contributions to the Star Wars universe.
“No. We’ve only met a couple times, and we’ve only had a half-a-dozen conversations over the last ten years. Seriously. I saw Jon Favreau at a scoring session once. We’ve always gotten along with those guys, and we’ve never had anything but high praise for everything that they’ve done. We only have our show because of them, and we’ve always said that was true. There’s no Andor without The Mandalorian. It would not exist. So it has never been anything but cordial and pleasant, ever, ever, ever, ever. I don’t know anything that you don’t know. I really don’t.”
Gilroy credited The Mandalorian with laying the groundwork for Andor, emphasizing the collaborative spirit across Star Wars projects despite occasional rumors to the contrary.
Unseen Storylines and Creative Choices in Andor
The showrunner touched on a planned mission involving Cassian and Bix that was ultimately not filmed due to budget limits and narrative cohesion. This mission was referenced indirectly in the series but took place off screen during the time before the Coruscant safe house events.
“I put a [Bix and Cassian mission] off screen. In the first scene at the safe house [in episode 2×04], they’re talking about a mission they just came off of where he killed somebody who saw their faces.It certainly would’ve been fun and easy to write interesting things for them to do together, but where do you put it? How does it fit? What’s its application? So it happens to take place off screen in the year before the Coruscant safe house.”
This reveals some of the practical considerations behind storytelling in a complex, high-budget series, balancing character development and plot progression.
Reflecting on the Future of Live-Action Streaming Productions
Gilroy concluded by expressing uncertainty about whether a series like Andor, with its heavy investment in live-action production on streaming platforms, will be made again. He conveyed gratitude for having had the opportunity to bring this story to life in such an ambitious format.
“So I’m not sure if we’ll ever see something like Andor again — made live, not by AI. Will someone ever spend that kind of money to make something live again [on streaming]? I don’t know if that will ever happen again, but what a great thing it is to be able to have done it. We got away with it, and we feel pretty good about it.”
This statement reflects broader industry questions surrounding budgetary constraints, technological advances, and creative risk-taking in streaming content.
Availability of the Series
Both seasons of Andor are currently available for streaming on Disney Plus, offering viewers a politically charged, character-driven look at the origins of rebellion within the Star Wars saga.
