Tony Gilroy, creator of the Star Wars series Andor, recently shared new insights about the parallels between his show and real-world political events. During the extensive press tour that followed the release of the show’s second and final season last year, Gilroy and others were repeatedly asked about the series’ portrayal of the Galactic Empire as a fascist and authoritarian regime. Gilroy has now revealed that he was deliberately cautious in his language during those interviews, mainly because his employers at Disney discouraged direct use of terms like “fascism” or “genocide,” a limitation he has since felt free to overcome.
Balancing Caution and Honesty in Public Discussions
Gilroy clarified that this restraint was not due to severe censorship but rather a strategic choice in communication. After initial interviews with Diego Luna, the star of the show, they anticipated heavy questioning about the series’ relationship to current political climates, especially comparisons to the Trump administration. To avoid conflict or creating discomfort among the cast, who held diverse political views, Gilroy explained,
“And we had a bunch of people that we were going to put on the road to sell the show. 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, and it’s a version of what I’m telling you now. ‘We studied history to make the show, and we based it on historical models. We don’t have a crystal ball. There’s comps for everything that we did all through history.’” – Tony Gilroy, Showrunner
This approach allowed the narrative to speak for itself, using historical examples to explain the Empire’s actions without naming contemporary political figures directly. While Gilroy refrained from explicitly mentioning “genocide” or “fascism” in earlier interviews, the show’s content—like the depiction of Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly—delivered unambiguous commentary.
The Symbolism of Ghorman and Its Real-World Parallels
In discussing the show’s settings, Gilroy emphasized how the fictional planet Ghorman represents real-world geopolitical conflicts. Ghorman, a source of a rare mineral necessary for the Empire’s superlaser weapons, acts as a metaphor for resource-driven imperialism. He explained,
“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.” – Tony Gilroy, Showrunner
These comparisons show how the narrative draws on recurring human behavior, where powerful entities exploit natural resources and control territories to build military advantage and maintain authority over others.
Tony Gilroy’s Renewed Candor on Authoritarianism
With the completion of Andor and his current work on a new film titled Behemoth!, Gilroy has begun speaking more openly about the real-world political environment. He described the current state of affairs in the United States as “an absolute gothic nightmare,” reflecting his frustration and pessimism regarding rising authoritarian tendencies. Addressing the similarities between fictional and real political regimes, Gilroy remarked,
“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?” – Tony Gilroy, Showrunner
This frank admission highlights how the fictional depiction of fascism, while grounded in history, ironically mirrors the tactics used by contemporary political actors more closely than originally anticipated.
The Broader Impact of Gilroy’s Perspective on “Andor”
Tony Gilroy’s shift from cautious diplomacy to open expression signals a growing urgency to confront authoritarianism directly. His approach to creating Andor demonstrates how fiction can reflect and critique real political systems, providing viewers a lens to recognize patterns of oppression and resistance. The show’s resonance with current global political climates underscores the timeless relevance of stories about power and control.
As Gilroy moves forward with new projects, his willingness to address such themes more explicitly may encourage more creators to engage critically with political realities through their work. For audiences, the series serves as both entertainment and a warning, urging vigilance against the reemergence of dangerous ideologies in any form.
