Star Wars has long centered on a fight against a fascist regime, where the Rebel Alliance rises up against the oppressive Empire, which governs through fear, uniformed troops, and widespread violence. This struggle against authoritarianism is fundamental to the franchise, yet when Disney+ launched Andor, the use of the term fascism was deliberately avoided during its promotion. Tony Gilroy, creator of Andor, disclosed this unusual marketing approach in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing how the word was considered too charged to highlight openly amid the press campaign.
Marketing Caution During Andor’s Press Tour
Gilroy explained that he and co-star Diego Luna wanted to speak plainly about the show’s themes, but the official marketing team took a more cautious line. Diego Luna and Gilroy had early press sessions where they hinted at the show’s intense and political nature, but broader publicity efforts were handled cautiously to avoid imposing political labels on the cast or content. The actors themselves came from diverse political backgrounds, and the producers aimed to respect their views without forcing confrontational language.
“Diego [Luna] and I had some early, super long-lead press, and we tiptoed out,”
Gilroy said.
“We were like, ‘Oh my God, this is really electric.’”
“So we stepped back, 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.”
Rather than explicitly naming the Empire as a fascist state, the team chose to frame it through a historical lens.
“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.’”
“So that 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.”
Open Discussion on Authoritarianism After Release
Once the show had aired and initial promotion was complete, Gilroy became more open about the political subject matter Andor tackles. He underscored that the story was crafted as a direct commentary on authoritarianism and fascism, with the Empire acting as a clear symbol of these forces.
“The simplest answer to the strange synchronicity of [what’s happening in the U.S. right now] is really on them, the outside forces,”
Gilroy said.
“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.”
This wide canvas enabled Gilroy and his team to delve into the inner workings of oppressive regimes, illustrating how such systems consolidate power and compel individuals to participate in their mechanisms. Instead of focusing solely on the visually iconic stormtroopers, Andor examined the Empire’s use of surveillance, propaganda, bureaucracy, forced labor, and gradual control.
A Realistic Portrait of Oppression in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Rather than presenting a simple space adventure, Andor adopts the tone of a political thriller, exploring how tyranny arises and how people become entangled in its machinery. Gilroy highlighted how closely the fiction paralleled real-world trends, capturing the repetitive nature of authoritarian tactics.
“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,”
Gilroy remarked.
“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.”
When Andor first premiered, some fans suggested it was eerily predictive of current political developments, but Gilroy rejected the idea that the series foresaw the future.
“In the beginning, it was very confusing. People were like, ‘Oh, you’re psychic,’ or, ‘The show is prescient.’”
“But in the rear-view mirror, it’s really a much sadder explanation than that,”
he concluded.
Andor’s Impact on the Star Wars Narrative
What distinguishes Andor within the Star Wars franchise is its refusal to obscure the nature of the Empire’s rule. The series embraces the reality of the fascist regime behind the familiar imagery of star destroyers and stormtroopers, raising deeper questions about individual complicity, resistance, and the origins of rebellion. Though Disney encouraged softer language during early publicity, the show’s content boldly confronts the harsh truths beneath the surface.
This approach adds a gritty and honest dimension to the franchise, reminding viewers that the Empire is not just a backdrop for adventure but a representation of dangerous authoritarian forces. By illuminating the political and social mechanisms that sustain such regimes, Andor offers a timely reflection on power, control, and defiance across galaxies and in real life.
